Abia Govt Honours Late Nigeria’s Boxing Legend, Obisia Nwankpa With State Burial

The Abia State Government has announced that winners of the Abia State Secondary School Unity Games will henceforth receive the Obisia Nwankpa Medal.

The State’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development,  Nwaobilor Ananaba disclosed this on Friday, at the Umuahia Township Stadium, during a State burial organised by the Abia State government for the late  Olympian.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Sports, Mr. Raymond Ukwa, said that the honour made for the  deceased, was because his  commitment to service of his land.

According to the Commissioner, through the initiative, his name will live in Abia schools, sports development system and in the dreams of young Abians who believe in excellence.

He condoled with the Nwankpa family on behalf of the Abia State government, noting that the deceased belonged to the generation that defined sports in Nigeria.

In his tribute, the Abia State Director of Sports, Obioma George, was a warrior who chose boxing as a career and excelled in it by winning 23 of his 29 fights as a boxer, 16 of which was a knockout.

“Obisie Nwankpa got a gold medal in all African Games as far back as 1973 in Lagos. He also got a gold medal in Commonwealth Games. He was a light, welterweight boxer. He was in Munich Olympics of 1972.

The late Bishop Obisie Nwankpa who died at 75 years, was later buried on Friday  in Okpulukwu Umuosu, Nsulu,  Isiala Ngwa North LGA.