The much-anticipated 1st edition of the West Africa Para Games is set to start on Friday when the Games are officially declared open, at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The sport-loving Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, is expected to declare the competition open as about 500 Para Athletes across 11 Sports will begin hostilities for country glory and personal pride in the next six days.
The National Sports Commission, alongside the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria and the Government of Ogun State, has set modalities for a hitch-free competition for all participating countries and athletes.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko and the Director General, Bukola Olopade, have urged residents and the good people of Ogun State to come out in their numbers to support the athletes.
The NSC Chairman said setting the pace in hosting the first edition of the competition is another testament to the inclusive commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the sustainable growth of Nigerian Sports.
“Mr President has successfully backed and supported us through the RHINSE (Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy) campaign to stage several international competitions within the last year,” Dikko stated.
“A feat which has not happened in Nigerian sports for decades.”
The Director General, Olopade, maintained that the country’s heroic special athletes deserve such an international competition, which was why the NSC agreed to collaborate with the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) to host the games.
“Hosting these games is a further testament to our mandate that Nigeria is capable of staging international competitions and we are focused to continue to raise the bar to attract more global sporting events,” Olopade added.
Nigeria is expected to take on Cameroon in Amputee football immediately after the Opening ceremony inside the MKO Abiola stadium.