Twenty-four young boxers drawn from the four sporting zones of Ogun State are set to compete at the maiden RIYE U17 Boxing Circuit scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, with organisers assuring participants and spectators of adequate safety and effective coordination.

The competition is organised by Hon. Tunde Delu, Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, under the Young Athletes Yield Initiative (YAYI), with the objective of identifying, nurturing and developing young sporting talents across the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, Delu said preparations had been completed for the event, which is expected to provide a platform for discovering and showcasing the next generation of boxing talents in Ogun State.

He explained that the RIYE Sports Circuit was established to identify promising athletes at an early age, monitor their progress and provide the support required to develop their potential.

According to him, the initiative goes beyond organising competitions, as it seeks to establish a structured pathway through which young athletes can grow and excel in their chosen sports.

“The RIYE Sports Circuit is designed to identify young talents early, nurture them and provide a structured pathway for their development. We are not just organising competitions, we are building a system that will give promising athletes the opportunity to grow, improve and represent Ogun State and Nigeria in the future,” Delu said.

He reiterated the organisers’ commitment to delivering a safe and well-coordinated competition that would motivate the young boxers and strengthen grassroots boxing in the state.

“We are committed to ensuring that this maiden U17 Boxing Circuit is safe, well-coordinated and rewarding for all participants. Our goal is to encourage these young boxers, promote grassroots boxing and create more opportunities for our youths to excel through sports,” he added.

Delu recalled that the organisers had previously staged the RIYE U15 Athletics Championships. He also disclosed that plans were underway to extend the circuit to other sporting disciplines, including table tennis, gymnastics and scrabble.

Winners of the 12 scheduled bouts will each receive ₦100,000 in cash rewards, while the other participating boxers will receive ₦50,000 each. Medals will also be presented to the young competitors.

One of the boxers expected to compete, Anuoluwapo Soyombo, popularly known as Beast, expressed confidence ahead of the event, promising an exciting performance for spectators.

Soyombo said she was prepared to compete and emerge victorious, adding that she and the other 23 boxers had undergone intensive training in recent weeks in preparation for the competition.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Ogun State Boxing Association and boxing promoter, Coach David Osuolale, assured that the technical and safety requirements for the event had been adequately addressed.

Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun State chapter, Comrade Michael Azeez Ogunsiji, and former boxing champion and coach, Sunday Michael, also commended the initiative.

Both praised Delu for creating opportunities for young athletes to showcase their abilities, describing the competition as an avenue to encourage youth participation and support the development of grassroots boxing in Ogun State.