Five months after the death of Nigeria’s boxing legend, Obisia Nwakpa, his remains still lie in a Lagos morgue, a situation that has reignited concern over the country’s neglect of retired athletes who once brought glory to the nation.

Nwakpa, fondly called Golden Glove, died on June 3, 2025, aged 75, after years of battling ill health. Despite decades of service as both a celebrated boxer and national coach, his family says they have been left alone to handle his medical debts and burial plans.

His widow, Madam Franca Nwakpa, said in an interview that the family spent over ?9 million on hospital bills before his death, leaving them financially drained.

“The sickness exhausted everything we had. Now, even the burial has become impossible,” she said.

She added that the cost of keeping his remains in the mortuary had risen to nearly ?2 million, with no help forthcoming from the sports authorities or government.

According to her, several letters sent to the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) have gone unanswered.

“It is heartbreaking that after serving Nigeria for over 40 years, as a boxer, a national coach, and an international representative, no one has reached out,” she lamented.

Born in Okpulukwu Umosu, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State, Nwakpa was one of Africa’s finest boxers in the 1970s and 1980s. He won multiple continental titles and once challenged America’s Saoul Mamby for a world title in Lagos, a fight that remains part of Nigerian boxing folklore.

After retiring, he coached the national boxing team, nurturing young fighters who went on to represent Nigeria internationally.

Observers say his situation mirrors the larger neglect of retired sports heroes across the country.

“Many of our champions end up forgotten; there’s no welfare structure for those who served this nation in sports,” said a former boxer who trained under Nwakpa.

Having received no response from federal authorities, Madam Franca said she turned to the Abia State Government for support. She has reportedly met with the Commissioner and Director of Sports, who promised to brief Governor Alex Otti.

“I am appealing to Governor Otti and friends of my late husband to help me lay him to rest by November. Obisia should not be left abandoned in death,” she said. (The Guardian)