The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has announced a comprehensive lineup of activities for the maiden edition of the National Boxing Week, which will also feature the open trials for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

 

The week-long event is scheduled to hold from March 1–6, 2026, at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, National Stadium, Lagos.

The highlight of the Boxing Week will be the National Open Trials aimed at selecting boxers who will represent Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

 

The trials are open to all affiliated clubs, state associations, institutions, and eligible Nigerian boxers worldwide, including those in the diaspora. Each affiliated body is expected to present one boxer per weight category.

 

A total of 10 weight categories will be contested:

 

Men: 55kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg

Women: 51kg, 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 70+kg

 

According to the federation, the trials are designed to ensure a transparent, merit-based selection process for the nation’s finest pugilists.

As part of the event, the NBF will celebrate the life and legacy of Nigerian boxing legend, Hogan Bassey, fondly known as “Kid” Bassey, who brought global recognition to Nigeria through his achievements in the ring.

 

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Vice President of the Federation, Hon. Omonlei Imadu, emphasized the importance of honoring past heroes while building a new future for Nigerian boxing.

 

“Hogan Bassey remains an enduring symbol of courage, excellence, and national pride. As an icon, we want to celebrate him with respect and honor and show the young ones what it truly means to be a hero. His legacy must inspire a new generation of Nigerian champions,” Imadu said.

 

He reaffirmed that the Open Trials will reflect the federation’s renewed commitment to fairness and meritocracy.

 

“The old tradition of selecting boxers without an open meritocracy is not what we want to do anymore, especially under the leadership of the National Sports Commission and its strong focus on merit. Every boxer must earn the right to wear the green and white through performance and discipline.”

 

Imadu called on Nigerian boxers both at home and abroad to seize the opportunity, noting that selection for Glasgow 2026 would be “fierce, fair, and strictly based on merit.”

Beyond competition, the National Boxing Week will feature a joint seminar for referees and coaches, national orientation sessions for boxers focused on discipline and professionalism, and stakeholder engagement forums aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s domestic boxing ecosystem.

 

In a landmark modernization move, the NBF will also unveil newly developed digital assets during the event. Over the past three months, the federation has worked on automating its licensing system, rebranding its official website and social media platforms, and building digital infrastructure to enhance governance, transparency, and athlete management.

 

The NBF President, His Excellency Hon. Wale Edun, described the digital transformation as central to the federation’s reform agenda.

 

“We are repositioning Nigerian boxing for global competitiveness, not just inside the ring, but administratively and technologically. Governance must be as strong as the punches our athletes throw.”

 

National Boxing Week is expected to mark a defining moment for Nigerian boxing—blending history, elite competition, institutional reform, and national pride into one landmark sporting event.