By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA FCT – Minister of Sports Development Senator John Enoh has grieved over the demise of the first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, who died on Monday at the age of 85.
Enoh who took to his X account to express sadness, recalled that Maiyegun’s death came just days after the 60th anniversary of his remarkable achievement at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won a bronze medal in boxing. Stressing that his legacy as a pioneer of Nigerian sports excellence will never be forgotten.
He therefore expressed his heart-felt condolences to Maiyegun’s family and the entire Nigerian sports community. Adding that his monumental contribution to Nigerian sports in 1964 was not just a win for himself but a victory for all Nigerians.
Precise Post recalls that Maiyegun who was born on the 17th February 1941 died on 26th of August 2024.
The statement reads in full:
We lost Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, who died on Monday at the age of 85.
Maiyegun’s death came just days after the 60th anniversary of his remarkable achievement at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won a bronze medal in boxing. Competing in the Light Middleweight (71 kg) category, he shared the bronze medal with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak after both athletes lost in the semifinals, as per Olympic tradition.
My condolences to Maiyegun’s family and the entire Nigerian sports community. His monumental contribution to Nigerian sports in 1964 was not just a win for himself but a victory for all Nigerians. His legacy as a pioneer of Nigerian sports excellence will never be forgotten.
