Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has lauded the organisers of the Lagos Governor’s Belt, describing the competition as a vital platform for youth development and the growth of amateur boxing.
Speaking at the 16th edition of the Lagos Governor’s Belt, organised by the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Lagos State Boxing Association on Boxing Day at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Edun praised the consistency and impact of the championship, noting that it has become a key fixture on the Lagos sporting calendar.
“It’s a yearly event for the top players of the amateur boxing championship, and many more are still to come,” Edun who is also President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), said. “Let me congratulate everybody involved in this 16th edition of the annual Governor’s Boxing Hall of Fame and Governor’s Belt. In particular, David Mohammed, the coordinator of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame, has done a wonderful job.”
He linked the success of the event to broader government efforts at both the federal and state levels to empower young people through sports. “Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, young people and sports people are being encouraged. This event is another manifestation of that commitment,” Edun stated. “Half of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 19years, over 100 million people. That is a huge demographic opportunity, and platforms like this help channel that energy positively.”
According to him, the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame has remained consistent in providing opportunities for young athletes to showcase their abilities and dream bigger.
“They are the future. They are to be supported, they are to be helped. Some of these youngsters will go on to national and international glory, even fame and fortune,” he said.
Director of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame, David Mohammed, expressed excitement over the successful staging of the event, describing the Governor’s Belt as a tradition that continues to grow in stature. “This is the 16th Governor’s Belt, and it has been consistent every year. On Boxing Day, Lagos knows they come to enjoy top-class amateur boxing. That’s how it’s been for the past 15 years, and that’s how it’s going to continue for the long foreseeable future,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Mohammed revealed plans aimed at raising the competitive standard of the championship. “We’re introducing a new format based on the administrative divisions in Lagos State. We’ll hold individual championships for each division to get the best of the best. We want talent, we want competition, we want excitement, and we believe this new format will give us just that,” he explained.
The highlight of the annual LBHF tournament saw Faruk Ajibuwon, gold medallist at the African Youth Games, being crowned best boxer of the year, claiming the prestigious ₦1m Governor’s Belt jackpot.
