The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua as the torch bearer at the rescheduled 2024 National Sports Festival.
The Governor made this known on Monday when he hosted British-Nigerian in his office at the Gateway State.
“I want to openly request that, besides the fact that today we are going to officially confirm you as our sports ambassador, we want to request that you come back to light up the Gateway Sports Festival torch; you will be the one lighting it up,” he said.
Abiodun also announced plans by his administration to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring in the state saying, “We are going to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring, and that boxing ring will be in a stadium here in Abeokuta to ensure that you come home more frequently.
“Besides the fact that you are now our official sports ambassador, we have decided that we will give you a brand new house in Sagamu.”
Abiodun urged Anthony Joshua to find ways of supporting the state in the area of sports development by working alongside the Director General of the National Sports Commission and the state Commissioner for Sports Development to host a boxing championship in the state.
Prince Abiodun added that the state is extremely proud of the achievements of Joshua on the world stage, saying that his administration would support his career in every way it can.
“Your coming back home will be a source of motivation and inspiration for many young men who are aspiring sportsmen, and we have quite a lot of them in Ogun State.
“I want to congratulate you on what you have achieved in such a short span of time. You’ve made a short story of your life and your career,” the governor said.
Earlier in his remarks, Joshua noted that he would work towards promoting Ogun State to the rest of the world by showcasing the numerous talents in the state.
