NBF opposes transgender boxing

Azania Omo-Agege, the Interim President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), has stated that the federation will not support any initiatives aimed at promoting transgender boxing in the country.

Omo-Agege made this declaration on Wednesday in Abuja, expressing concerns about the planned visit of Boris Vandervorst, President of the World Boxing Federation (WBF), who is expected to advocate for transgender boxing in Nigeria. He emphasized that such a move would not serve the best interests of Nigerians.

Omo-Agege pointed out that Vandervorst has been at the forefront of promoting transgender boxing globally, citing his controversial involvement in allowing Algerian transgender boxer Imane Khalif to compete on the World Boxing platform at the Paris Olympics.

He also noted that many of Nigeria’s top boxers come from the military, and referenced President Bola Tinubu’s recent ban on transgender individuals in the military, questioning whether boxers would be expected to defy the President’s stance to represent the country. For these reasons, Omo-Agege emphasized that transgender boxing would not be welcomed in Nigeria.

The NBF President criticized those championing this movement, including Vandervorst, accusing them of prioritizing personal interests over the nation’s welfare. He also expressed concerns about the involvement of individuals responsible for leading Nigerian boxers to a disastrous doping test result, which led to a ban, and questioned why these individuals were still allowed to operate within the Nigerian boxing community.

Omo-Agege warned that allowing transgender boxing to take root in the country could lead to the collapse of boxing as a sport in Nigeria. He urged the Nigerian sporting authorities to carefully consider the issue, taking into account President Tinubu’s stance on transgender issues.

In conclusion, Omo-Agege praised the President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Umar Kremlev, for his ongoing support for Nigerian boxers, noting the donation of 500 boxing gloves as a sign of his commitment to the development of Nigerian boxing. He also commended Eyassu Wossen, the President of the Africa Boxing Confederation, for his role in advancing the sport across the continent.

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