Enugu Govt Delegation Meets with Visually Impaired Former Amateur Boxer

A delegation of the Enugu State government on Tuesday met with a visually challenged former amateur boxer, Mr Steve Ogboh who claimed to have won gold medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand.

Ogboh Hails from Nomeh in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

According to a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, the meeting was sequel to “the directive of the ever-caring and compassionate Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”.

The statement added that Aroh and the Chairman of Nkanu East LGA, Engr. Abel Uchenna Nwobodo, led the government’s discussions with the visually impaired boxer, who is also a National Sports Festival gold medalist, with a view to finding the best ways to assist him overcome his challenges.

Mr. Ogboh, who is currently blind, in a video that went viral, identified himself as an indigene of Nomeh in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State, adding that he won the gold medal in boxing in 1974 Commonwealth Game in New Zealand.

The visually impaired appealed to government at any level to assist him with a smart walking stick and also resolve the communal issues he is having with some people in his community over his identity.

Although the former boxer claimed in the video to have won the gold in Australia when in fact the Games held in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Again, THISDAY checks from archives showed that there was no Ogboh amongst the two Nigerian boxers that won the countries two boxing gold medals at the 1974 Games.

Edward ‘Eddie’ Ndukwu (57 kg) and Obisia Nwankpa (63.5 kg) won the two boxing gold medals while Modupe Oshikoya won Nigeria’s third gold medal at the Games from the women’s long jump event.

The 10 boxers that represented Nigeria at the 1974 Games in New Zealand include; (1) Salisbury Ishola; (2) Christopher Emenogu; (3) Edward (Eddie) Ndukwu; (4) Kayin Amah; (5) Obisia Nwankpa; (6) Isaac Siloko; (7) Fidelis Olayiwola; (8) Kingsley Idani; (9) Isaac Ikhuoria and (10) Fatai Ayinla.