The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has extended his condolences to the family of Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, over his tragic demise in Ghana during a bout on March 29, 2025, against Ghanaian opponent John Mbanugu.
According to him, the ministry and the entire nation are saddened by the unfortunate incident that claimed the boxer’s life and empathise with the Nigeria Boxing Board Control (NBBC).
The sports minister urged the bereaved family and the Nigerian sporting fraternity to stay strong during these tough moments.
“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I, on behalf of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Government of Ghana, extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun, who tragically passed away following his contest at the Bukom Boxing Arena. Gabriel, a promising athlete who displayed exceptional talent, passion, and courage in the ring, passed away under unfortunate circumstances.
“We deeply empathise with the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBC), the entire Nigerian boxing fraternity over this irreplaceable loss. Gabriel’s untimely departure not only deprives boxing of an admirable competitor but also reminds us of the unpredictable nature of the sport we passionately love,” portions of the statement read.
The Member of Parliament for Buem constituency also stated that his outfit will cooperate with investigations and put measures in place to ensure similar incidents do not happen in the future.
“While we await the official medical report regarding the cause of Gabriel’s passing, the ministry, together with the Ghana Boxing Authority, pledges full cooperation to ensure a thorough investigation and to support all efforts aimed at improving the safety of our athletes,” the statement added.
Read the full statement from the sports ministry below:
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