Former two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his residence in Lagos on Wednesday, presenting the Nigerian leader with an autographed boxing glove as a gesture of goodwill.
The visit took place during the President’s holiday stay in Lagos, which had been announced earlier by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on December 18, 2024. Onanuga revealed that President Tinubu would spend the Christmas and New Year period in the state.
Joshua, a proud Nigerian by heritage, has been making rounds during his visit to the country, which included a stop in Ogun State to meet Governor Dapo Abiodun. During his visit to Ogun, the governor bestowed upon him the Yoruba name “Omobowale,” meaning “the child who has come home,” and praised the boxing champion as a worthy ambassador of the state.
Expressing his connection to his roots, Joshua shared his motivations for returning to Nigeria. “My coming home is intentional. I brought my son and some other relatives of mine to Ogun State to learn the culture of our people,” he said. He also affirmed his commitment to fostering the growth of boxing and grassroots sports in Nigeria, adding, “I appreciate the Governor for honoring me, and I am fully committed to the development of boxing and other grassroots sports in Ogun State and Nigeria in general.”
The presentation of the autographed glove to President Tinubu underscored Joshua’s pride in his Nigerian heritage and his ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the country.