Nigeria’s First Olympic Medallist Nojim Maiyegun Passes Away

Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, has sadly passed away at the age of 85 in Vienna, Austria, where he had been residing for several years. His death was confirmed by Nigerian acquaintance Stephen Ogboh, occurring just days after the 60th anniversary of his historic achievement at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics.

On August 10, 1964, Maiyegun won a bronze medal in boxing, competing in the Light Middleweight category. This remarkable victory ended Nigeria’s 12-year Olympic medal drought, marking the first time the nation secured a medal since it began participating in the Games in Helsinki in 1952.

Born on February 17, 1941, in Lagos, Maiyegun became a significant figure in Nigerian sports history. Although he largely remained out of public focus until 2012 due to his vision loss, his contributions to the country’s sporting achievements remain monumental.

Maiyegun faced multiple hospital visits in the last six months of his life, and despite his visual impairment, he has been remembered fondly for his courage and determination.