Jubilation as Anthony Joshua visits Sagamu

There was jubilation in Sagamu on Wednesday when the World heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, arrived at the palace of Akarigbo of Remo.

According to reports gathered, during the visit, Joshua met indigenes of the town as well as traditional rulers including the Akarigbo and other chiefs in Sagamu.

Mr Naira, the head of Anthony Joshua Supporters Club in Sagamu, confirmed Joshua’s presence to reporters. He however commended the boxer for yielding to their calls to visit Sagamu. Thousands of youths had in December 2019 gathered to watch Joshua’s rematch against Andy Ruiz at his family house.

Joshua is a British boxer of Nigerian descent. He was born in Watford to a Nigerian mother, Yeta Odusanya, and a British father of Nigerian and Irish descent, Robert, in 1989. He made his debut alongside his cousin, Ben Illeyemi, who  also became a professional boxer in 2013.

According to reports, Joshua spent some of his early years in Nigeria and also had part of his junior secondary education as a boarding house student at Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun state.

He returned to the United Kingdom when he was 12 years old. His father’s family name is popular in Ijokun, Sagamu area of Ogun State. The family owns a large expanse of land along Akarigbo road, Cinema Street. A part of which houses two banks, hospital, filling station and a large church, St. John Anglican, among others.

As a landmark, a hall was built in memory of Joshua’s great grandfather, Omo-Oba Daniel Adebambo Joshua. His relatives say Joshua hails from a royal family in Ogun State.

As a way to show his connection to Nigeria, the boxing champion visited Makoko in Lagos State recently and also registered with the National Identity Management.