Sports
AFBC Congress in Addis Ababa: Nigerian, Azania Omo-Agege re-elected as the 1st vice President
By Martin Odiete, Abuja
Interim President of the Nigerian Boxing Association, Azania Omo-Agege has been re-elected 1st vice president of the Africa Boxing Confederation, (AFBC).
The election which place in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia also saw the emergence of Mr Berhanu Eyassu Wossen, from Ethiopia as the new President of the Boxing Confederation.
Omo- Agege had been acting as the interim president of the Africa Boxing body following the suspension of the former president Cameroonian Bertrand Mendouga this year by the IBA ethics commission.
Addressing the audience, IBA President Umar Kremlev called on delegates to unity. “We are here today to unite all of Africa and I am happy to see a united team. To take our business to the next level, we need more events where athletes can have the opportunity to win money. I see a lot of countries in Africa that need our support and we have been extremely supportive with them.”
“National federations should be more active in asking for financial support. Today I would like you to elect your new president so that one of the candidates can begin the immense work that awaits us at AFBC for the future of boxing on the continent,” said President Kremlev.
On his part, newly elected AFBC President Wossen promised more support for the continent: “I promise to find financial support for our continent. Let’s think about our future together because we must be united.”
“This is the dawn of a new era of unprecedented success in African boxing and I want to radically change the face of boxing on our continent,” said last October when he was president of the Ethiopian Federation boxing.
Meanwhile, Omo-Agege told our correspondent from Addis Ababa that his re-election is indeed a blessing to Nigeria maintaining that he would ensure that Nigerian boxers benefits from his position as the 1st vice president the African boxing body.
He thanked the Nigerian Government for the opportunity given to him to be able to contest for such great position in African boxing.
“Let me thank my Minister, Nigerian Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh for the supports accorded me in my effort to contest in this election. You may wish to know that if he had been against my contesting in the election I would not have been able to make it. So, for this, I say a very big THANK YOU to my Minister,” he concluded.
Sports
Badminton Community Honors Gabriel Gbayan with Night of Tributes in Abuja
The badminton community came together in full force to honor the life and legacy of Gabriel Gbayan, a distinguished board member of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and Chairman of the FCT Badminton Association. The emotional candlelight service, organized by the Mabilla Barrack Badminton Club (MBBC) with support from various stakeholders, was a heartfelt tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the sport.
Speaking at the event, Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), commended the organizers for their thoughtful recognition of Gbayan’s immense contributions. “I am deeply moved by what MBBC has done here tonight,” Orbih remarked. “It speaks volumes about how much they valued him, bringing together all key stakeholders to celebrate his life. Gbayan was not just a leader in the badminton community, but a kind, gentle, and family-oriented man. His passing is a great loss, not only to Nigeria but to badminton across Africa. As stakeholders, we are committed to standing by his family during this challenging time.”
Adakole Jones, a close friend and confidant of the late Gbayan, struggled to capture the magnitude of the loss. “This is an incredibly painful blow to the badminton family,” Jones shared. “All we can do now is pray that God raises up another person like him, both for his family and for the sport he loved so much.”
Rtd. Real Admiral Yusuf Idowu, Chairman of MBBC, reflected on the significance of the evening, calling the candlelight service “a small but meaningful gesture to honor a man who gave so much to badminton in the FCT and beyond.” He continued, “Gbayan’s legacy and contributions to badminton will never be forgotten. He was a steadfast pillar of support for the growth of the sport and for all those involved.”
In an emotional moment, Mrs. Doom Gbayan, the widow of the late badminton stalwart, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the tributes paid to her husband. “It brings me comfort to hear so many kind words about Gabriel and to know that his efforts are being remembered,” she said. “Though the pain of losing him is overwhelming, knowing that his legacy lives on in the hearts of so many makes it a little easier to bear.”
The night of tributes, though somber, was also a celebration of Gabriel Gbayan’s life and his lasting influence on badminton in Nigeria and beyond. His unwavering dedication, kindness, and vision for the sport will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.
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