Newly elected board members of Para Sports Federations in the country have been charged by the Federal Government to leave no stone unturned in seeing to the development of Para sports in Nigeria.
Director Press and Public Relations Mohammed Manga quoted the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, to have made the call on Wednesday in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, during the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected Board Members of the National Parasports Federations.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar Dare indicated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, in its bid to give people with disability a sense of belonging and equal opportunity, created the National Sports Festival and Para-Sports Department to oversee the affairs of Para-sports in Nigeria.
He explained that “National Sports Federations are the bedrock of sports development in Nigeria and the constitution of the new board for Parasports was therefore to reinvigorate them in line with the desire of the Federal Government to re-position sports for effective and efficient service delivery and progressive agenda for job and wealth creation for Nigeria teeming Youth.”
Dare called on the new board members to leverage on the mantle of leadership vested upon them to write their names in gold by lifting the sports to enviable height adding that it is his belief that they will use their proven integrity, knowledge and resources to render selfless and purposeful services to facilitate effective growth and development of Sports in the country.
The Minister commended the Electoral Committee for conducting a free, fair and credible election which he said was in line with the democratic principles, and therefore urged the winners to be magnanimous in victory.
“It is my hope and belief that you will use your proven integrity, knowledge and resources to render selfless and purposeful service to facilitate effective growth and development of Parasports in Nigeria. I implore the Federations that will be participating in the 2022 Commonwealth Games to go for the gold and make Nigeria proud”, he said.
Speaking earlier, the Director, National Sports Festival and Para Sports Department, (NSF & PS), Mr Peter Nelson called on the newly elected officials to give their best to ensuring the upliftment of Para games in Nigeria.
While charging them not to depend solely on government for sponsorship, he called on the officials to be creative with a view to wooing private partnerships for their various Federations.
In his response, the President, Para Swimming Board, Mr. Chiwendu Amobi pledged the Boards commitment to the success of Para Sports, especially at the Commonwealth Games commencing in Birmingham next week.
The Para Sports Federations inaugurated include: Amputee Football, Para-Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Swimming, Para Soccer and Sitting Volleyball