Coach Anthony Asuquo: The Man Who Taught Abuja to Fly — A Life of Grit, Grace, and a Legacy That Won’t Die

Coach Tony in Action

In Abuja, where the headlines are often dominated by politics and power, there was another kind of influence quietly growing inside gym halls and school compounds: the influence of discipline, courage, and possibility. For years, Coach Anthony Asuquo was one of the people expanding what young Nigerians believed they could become — not with speeches, but with sweat, repetition, bruises, balance, and belief.

To many families across the FCT, he wasn’t just “a coach.” He was the man who could take a shy child, a restless teenager, a talented beginner, or a child from a struggling home — and give them structure, focus, and a platform to shine. And he did it in a sport Nigeria has rarely funded properly, and rarely celebrated loudly enough: gymnastics.

From hardship to high bars: the early years that shaped him

In a 2020 interview, Asuquo described a childhood marked by determination and scarcity — the kind of scarcity that forces a young person to become stubborn about their dreams. He said he began gymnastics in 1989, starting out in Lagos and commuting to training under difficult conditions, sometimes without money for transport, yet refusing to stop showing up. In the same interview, he identified himself as being from Cross River State (Akpabuyo LGA) and spoke about being raised by a single parent and carrying that experience into a lifelong commitment to give poor and vulnerable children a fair chance. (The Gleamer News)

That origin story mattered — because it shaped the type of coach Abuja came to know: relentless, grassroots-minded, and deeply protective of children who only needed an opportunity.

Building TIG: creating a pipeline where Nigeria had none

Coach Asuquo rose to national prominence largely through Tony International Gymnastics (TIG) — the Abuja-based club he founded and grew into a recognizable pipeline for young gymnasts.

By 2022, TIG’s work had become so visible that the club visited the Presidential Villa, where former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo publicly commended the athletes, parents, and coaching team — specifically naming Coach Asuquo and describing the effort as pioneering. In that same event, Asuquo said TIG had been founded 11 years earlier, had trained about 3,000 athletes, nurtured coaches, and represented Nigeria internationally — while still pleading for better facilities and sponsorship to keep the dream alive. (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN))

TIG was not just training routines — it was building confidence, identity, and a culture of excellence in a discipline that demands patience and precision.

“Catch them young”: the Abuja model that kept growing

Asuquo’s philosophy was consistent: start early, train properly, compete often, and create replacement talent. That mindset showed up repeatedly in the programs he ran in Abuja.

In 2024, TIG launched activities for what it called its 15th edition, drawing over 500 children from 17 secondary schools and gymnastics clubs, with events staged across multiple venues — including Transcorp Hilton and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Speaking at the opening, Asuquo emphasized that “catching them young” was the surest way to build future champions, and he spoke about TIG’s commitment to building a pool of talents even amid economic constraints. (The Gleamer News)

Two years earlier, TIG also ran talent-hunt style competitions for children as young as three, framed around discovering raw ability early enough to develop it into something world-class. (bsnsports.com.ng)

This is why Abuja parents remember him the way they do: he created a system that made their children feel seen — and safe — in a sport many Nigerians still find intimidating.

TIG

The medals that changed how Nigeria saw gymnastics

Coach Asuquo didn’t just talk about international exposure — he pursued it, repeatedly.

Malta (2023): In July 2023, Asuquo led eight TIG gymnasts (ages 6–11) to the Gymstar International Club World Championship in Malta. Nigeria’s team returned with 23 medals (gold, silver, and bronze), competing among nearly 200 gymnasts. Reports quoted him describing the outing as historic for the club and using it to renew calls for more support and sponsorship for gymnastics development. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)

Portugal (2024): In November 2024, Asuquo announced that Nigeria would send 13 gymnasts (11 female, 2 male) to the International Continental Cup 2024 in Anadia, Portugal, with athletes ranging from 6 to 19 years old. He said preparations and documentation had been concluded and expressed confidence that Nigeria would win medals. (Leadership)

After the event, reports said visa and funding challenges reduced the traveling team, but two young female gymnasts — Angela Marinoni and Desire Enahoro-Agbi — still delivered, winning gold, silver, and bronze in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics categories. Asuquo was quoted praising their discipline and describing the event as an important platform for global ranking and Olympic qualification pathways. (NEWSVERGE)

For Abuja families and Nigerian sports watchers, these weren’t just medals — they were proof that Nigerian children could compete in gymnastics internationally if someone built the bridge.

Beyond sport: inclusion, charity, and the children others overlook

What separated Asuquo from many “successful” sports figures was that his ambition didn’t end with elite competition. He consistently framed gymnastics as a tool for inclusion and youth development — especially for children with fewer advantages.

One Daily Trust report on an Abuja program held to mark UNESCO’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace quoted Asuquo saying the initiative targeted less-privileged children and selected 30 outstanding kids for continued free training and mentoring. The report also quoted him linking sports participation to reducing vulnerabilities like street hawking and child abuse by giving children structure and a positive outlet. (dailytrust.com)

And in his 2020 interview, he described visiting vulnerable communities and IDP settings, mixing humanitarian outreach with basic fitness and movement training — insisting that legacy mattered more than applause. (The Gleamer News)

A voice that pushed back — even when it cost him

Asuquo was also known as someone willing to challenge systems he believed were damaging the sport. In 2019, ACLSports published an interview describing him as the former technical director of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria who had resigned from federation leadership amid disputes, criticizing a lack of grassroots programming and alleging governance failures. (ACLSports)

Separately, in his 2020 interview, he presented himself as an internationally certified coach and described behind-the-scenes efforts he claimed helped protect Nigeria’s standing in gymnastics — including personally paying funds he said were necessary to lift an international ban at the time. (This was his account of events.) (The Gleamer News)

Whether people agreed with his stance or not, many respected the trait behind it: he cared enough to fight for the sport’s future.

The final chapter: a shocking death, unanswered questions, and a nation in disbelief

In early February 2026, Nigerians woke to heartbreaking news: Coach Anthony Asuquo had been found dead, with early reports describing the circumstances as unclear and “mysterious.” Multiple outlets reported that he died shortly after raising concerns to friends about an alleged ₦11 million withdrawal from his bank account — a claim that circulated widely online and intensified calls for an investigation. (PM News Nigeria)

A childhood friend’s message, widely reposted, framed the death as a matter the authorities should not ignore and appealed for urgent attention — reflecting the shock and anger many felt as tributes poured in. (National Daily Newspaper)

As of those reports, no official, detailed public explanation had been provided by relevant authorities about the cause of death. (PM News Nigeria)

A legacy that outlives tragedy

Even in death, Coach Anthony Asuquo’s story refuses to end in silence — because his true memorial is not a headline. It is the hundreds of Abuja children who learned discipline in his gym. It is the families who watched their child stand taller after mastering a routine they once feared. It is the Nigerian flag raised in foreign arenas by gymnasts who were told, directly or indirectly, that their country doesn’t do gymnastics.

His legacy is a blueprint:

• Build grassroots systems, not just star athletes

• Catch them young — and keep them safe

• Fight for international exposure

• Make room for the vulnerable

• Leave the sport better than you found it

If Nigeria and the FCT truly want to honor him, the tribute should be practical: a memorial gymnastics meet, a training scholarship fund for underprivileged children, upgraded equipment at Abuja’s gymnastics facilities, and a visible commitment to protecting and supporting the coaches who build champions from scratch.

Coach Anthony Asuquo’s life proved something important: Nigeria’s greatness is not limited by talent — it is limited by the structures we choose to build. He built a structure anyway.

And now, as the nation mourns his tragic passing, his students — and the city he helped teach to fly — are left with a responsibility: to continue the movement he started, and to ensure his story ends not in mystery, but in meaning.