A boxing enthusiast, Abdul Wahab Adekunle has rewarded the new World Boxing Federations (WBF) Super Featherweight champion Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola with a jaguar car, worths over six million naira.
The donor, while presenting the car said his action is in fulfilment of the promise he made to the boxer before his bout last month.
Adekunle said he could have given the boxing champion something more precious than the jaguar car if he could afford it, saying that nothing is too much for him to appreciate the wonderful feat the boxer achieved for Nigeria.
“Sports has become a big time money spinning venture globally. All over the world we can see the financial landmark all of them are bringing from Africa to Europe, but it seems we’re yet to come to terms with this fact, but I believe we can easily get there if we keep encouraging our athletes this way and hope they will keep doing better”, the donor said.
“I want to use this medium to advise the Federal Government to identify sports as another income earner. It is unbelievable that the United Kingdom posted the whooping one billion pounds as foreign exchange income from football alone. We can imagine if what we will get in return if we develop and encourage our sports men and women by building facilities to enhance their preparations”, the founder and CEO of Hamex Group remarked.
The President of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) Dr. Rafiu Ladipo who witnessed the presentation thanked the donor, who also supported the organization of the boxing event held at Ilaji Sports Resort with 10 million naira, for his valuable contributions to the success of the boxing project.
“Boxing can only get better if we see good people like Mr Adekunle and Engr. Sanusi of Ilaji Resorts coming into this game. Definitely this gesture will go a long way in motivating our other boxers and making them feel that there is hope for boxing in Nigeria, and they need not travel abroad before they can make it”, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo stated.
The presentation, which was done in Ibadan on Saturday at the premises of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), was also witnessed by the Secretary of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (N.B.B of C) Remi Aboderin, Chairman Oyo State N.B.B. of C. Hon Gbenga Opaleye, the CEO of Core Afrique Promotions and promoter of the fight Olusola Ayodele as well as Edna and Faith Aiyegbeni, both daughters of late Ibadan based boxing promoter, Francis Aiyegbeni.
