By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, Dec. 13, 2025
In a powerful gesture linking past glory to future ambition, the Abia State Government has announced that the medals for its ongoing State Secondary School Unity Games will be named in honor of the late Olympian boxer, Obisie Nwankpa. The decision, revealed during the state burial for the legendary athlete, aims to cement his legacy within the very fabric of Abia’s youth sports development.
Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, stated that naming the medals after Nwankpa was a direct response to the boxer’s lifelong commitment to excellence. “Through this initiative, his name will live on in Abia schools, within our sports development system, and in the dreams of young people who believe in achieving greatness,” Ananaba said, speaking through the Governor’s aide on Sports, Mr. Raymond Ukwa.
He eulogized Nwankpa as part of “the generation that defined sports in Nigeria,” a cohort that succeeded through “discipline, sacrifice, and uncommon patriotism.” The Commissioner’s tribute highlighted Nwankpa’s role as more than an athlete: “He didn’t just represent the state; he represented the hopes of the people and the resilience of the country. He invested his time, resources, and personal influence into the lives of young athletes, opening doors and creating opportunities that could not have been easily accessed.”
The Legacy of ‘The Golden Gloves’
The tributes painted a vivid picture of a sporting icon. The State Director of Sports, Mr. Obioma George, provided concrete evidence of Nwankpa’s prowess: a professional record of 23 wins in 29 fights, with a stunning 16 victories coming by way of knockout. His amateur achievements were equally formidable, capturing a gold medal at the 1973 All-African Games in Lagos and another at the Commonwealth Games. Nwankpa also competed on the world’s grandest stage as a light welterweight at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Chief Cyril Nwaigwe, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, noted that Nwankpa’s passing “has created a vacuum difficult to fill in the field of sports and in his family.”
A Father and a Fighter
Beyond the statistics and public accolades, personal remembrances offered a glimpse of the man behind the medals. His first daughter, Mrs. Victoria Ngozi, described him as “kind, generous, loving, and accommodating,” a man whose famous temper was often ignited by a sense of injustice. “Whenever you see daddy fighting, you see him getting angry because he felt like somebody was being cheated,” she recalled.
His widow, Franca, shared intimate details of a devoted family man. “He would never sleep until his children had all slept, and at midnight, he would wake up to check on them. And whenever he got angry with his children, he wouldn’t hesitate to correct them with love.”
An Enduring Symbol for a New Generation
The decision to name school sports medals after Obisie Nwankpa is a strategic move in sports legacy-building. It transforms a historical figure into a tangible, aspirational symbol for students. Each medal awarded will now carry the name of a local hero who rose from Abia to continental and global prominence, providing a direct, relatable line of inspiration. It answers a critical question in youth development: how do you make legacy relevant? By embedding it in the rewards of the present.
The clergyman at the service, Mr. Stanley Adindu, speaking on “Divine Responsibility,” underscored that everyone has a role and a time to fulfill it. Obisie Nwankpa fulfilled his, both in the ring and in his community. The newly named medals ensure that his role continues—inspiring the next generation to identify and accomplish their own assignments with the same discipline and heart.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwankpa, who died on June 3 at the age of 75, was laid to rest in his Okpulukwu, Umuosu-Nsulu country home in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. The state burial was attended by top government functionaries and members of the Nigerian Olympians Association.
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Sam Oditah
About the Author
