Obisia Nwakpa died in Lagos on June 3, 2025, at the age of 75, following years of ill health.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Madam Franca Nwakpa, the widow of Nigeria’s legendary boxer and former national coach, Obisia Nwakpa, has appealed to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti for assistance after struggling to raise funds for her husband’s burial.
She made the plea recently during an emotionally charged interview with reporters in Lagos.
Nwakpa, once celebrated as Africa’s boxing pride and nicknamed the Golden Glove, died in Lagos on June 3, 2025, at the age of 75, following years of ill health.
His corpse, however, remained in a Lagos morgue five months after his death due to his family’s inability to raise the necessary funds. While speaking to journalists, his grieving widow said the family is completely financially drained, having spent over N9 million in hospitals across Lagos and beyond before his death.
“The sickness exhausted everything we had. Now, even the burial has become impossible.
“His body has been in the mortuary for months because I can’t afford to continue paying the bills or transport him home for burial,” Madam Nwakpa said tearfully.
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She added that she had written several letters to the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), and the National Olympic Committee (NOC), appealing for support, but received no response.
“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.
“Obisia brought glory to this country. He won gold, raised champions, and gave his best to Nigerian sports. Yet, in death, he is forgotten,” she lamented
Having lost hope of federal help, Madam Franca said she turned to Abia State—the home state of Nwakpa—but the response so far has been slow.
“I have been travelling to Umuahia at great cost, meeting with the Commissioner and Director of Sports.
“They promised to reach Governor Alex Otti, who is known for his compassion. I am pleading with him to intervene,” she said.
According to her, the cost of keeping the body in the morgue has risen to nearly N2 million, while the overall funeral expenses remain far beyond her means.
“I never believed Nigerian sports authorities could abandon Obisia like this,” she sobbed, adding: “he gave his life to boxing and mentored many who are still active today.”
Madam Franca appealed to Governor Otti and friends of her late husband to help her lay him to rest by November 2025, as she originally planned.
“Obisia should not be left abandoned in death.
“He made Nigeria proud; he made Abia proud. All I ask is for help to give him a dignified farewell,” she pleaded.
