By Olanrewaju Agiri
The Progressive Professional Boxers Association of Nigeria (PPBA) is set to be officially inaugurated this Saturday, 21 March 2026, at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, marking a significant milestone in the development and organisation of professional boxing in the country.
The event is expected to draw a wide range of stakeholders within the boxing community, including active and retired professional boxers, trainers, promoters, sports administrators, and officials of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC). The inauguration aims to establish the association formally as a unified body dedicated to advancing the welfare and professional standards of Nigerian boxers.
According to the organisers, the formation of the association is driven by the urgent need to protect the interests of professional boxers across Nigeria. For years, many athletes in the sport have faced challenges such as unfair contracts, inadequate medical care, lack of proper representation, and limited access to career development opportunities.
Speaking ahead of the event, the coordinating head of the group, Afinni Idris Abiodun, emphasised that the association will serve as a collective voice for boxers, ensuring that their rights are respected and their contributions to the sport are duly recognised. “This is a platform created by boxers, for boxers. It is about unity, protection, and progress,” he said.
One of the core objectives of the Progressive Professional Boxers Association is to educate its members on their individual rights and responsibilities as professional boxers. The association plans to organise regular workshops, seminars, and training sessions focused on contract literacy, health and safety standards, financial management, and legal awareness.
The executives that will be inaugurated into various positions include Afinni Idris Abiodun as the coordinating head; Obinna Mathew and Kabiru Towolawi are the assistant coordinators; the secretary of the association is Sikiru Sogbesan, while Samuel Opaogun and Bolatito Oluwole will be sworn in as the treasurers. Public Relations Officers are Victor Chikalele, Celina Agwu and Chinedu Okeke, while the organising secretaries were Farouk Abubakri, Obaro Eradajaye and Blessing Chukwuede.
Tunde Olojede and Ridwan Oyekola will function as the financial secretaries, while Tony Salam, Oladimeji Akinde and Believe Oghuvwu will make up the dispute resolution/disciplinary teams.
