Minimah’s Boxing Hostel Excites Judo Officials, Praise NBF Chief

IKPO IGBINOBA 

It was praises galore for the President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (rtd) on Tuesday for his foresight in building a hostel for boxers within the Group Captain Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The praises came from members of delegation of the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF who were at the hostel to book accommodation for their guests during the Commonwealth Games trials scheduled for February 22nd to 25th in Lagos.

A member of the delegation and Secretary General of the Lagos State Judo Association, Mr. Kunle Salau said only a visionary leadership would have the capacity to put up such a structure.

According to him “One needs to salute the President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Lt. Gen Kenneth Minimah for having the foresight to put up this hostel.

“The general has demonstrated visionary leadership by building this hostel”

The judo secretary described the hostel as a win-win project not just for the boxing federation but the entire sports community.

Erstwhile national judo coach, Edokpolor Ihaza also doffed his hat for the NBF President. 

He said “With this hostel, Gen Minimah has written his name in letters of gold. Today, of all the sports federations in the country, only boxing can boast of this type of hostel”.

The judo coach said the hostel is serving the NBF in two ways.

“Apart from providing accommodation for the boxers during camping and board members during meetings, it is also generating revenue for the federation” Ihaza stressed.

Former Technical Director of the NJF, Dickson Egbowon was also full of praise for the NBF chief.

In his words “Nigerian boxing and stakeholders will never forget General Minimah for this hostel. With this hostel he has given Nigerian boxing a special identity”.

Egbowon said though it would be difficult, other federations should try and emulate the NBF and have their own complex.

“When one considers the financial implications of putting up this type of hostel, it will be scary for any federation to contemplate having one of its own” Egbowon said.

He added “However, with the right leadership  it is possible for any federation to achieve this feat”.

Though the Boxing Complex project  was initiated by former NBF President Group Captain Brai Ayonote in 1992, it was General Minimah who completed it, that was after the project was abandoned for over ten years.

The hostel named after the NBF President is a two storey building with over 30 rooms.