Vice Chairman of Oyo State Amateur Boxing Association (OSABA) Abimbola Adeoye has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to immortalize the Coach of the body Dotun Ashade who died on December 30,2025 in his sleep at his home in Ibadan.
Adeoye who is the scion of former Chairman of the Association Late Emmanuel Adeoye explained that Coach Ashade popularly referred to as Jagu has contributed immensely to the growth of boxing in the state hence should be immortalized.
He pointed out that the late veteran Coach has discovered many boxers for the state who had equally made exploits for the state apart from bringing honour and glory to it and the nation.
Adeoye specifically revealed that Coach Gowon and Sakiru Shanker whom he discovered and produced and who have retired and died respectively have brought honour to Oyo state and Nigeria through their exploits besides going ahead to become Coaches who have also produced boxing talent for Oyo state in the state and Nigeria just to mention a few.
The Vice Chairman said further that the late Coach Jagu was unrelenting until his death as he was still working and discovering talent for Oyo state until he died on December 30, 2025 inspite of his age which was 78 years adding that for this singular act among others, the late Coach should be immortalized for his contributions to the growth and development of boxing in Oyo state and Nigeria.
To this end, he advised that an annual boxing tournament should be organized in his name by the state government led by Engr Abiodun Seyi Makinde to immortalize him apart from using it as a pedestal to also discover hidden talent and as a platform for boxers to hone their skill.
