Team Nigeria win two medals at 1st African Para Games in Ghana

Posted : 11 September 2023

As the 1st African Para Games, tagged Accra 2023, set to kick off in Ghana, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has congratulated Team Nigeria for making the nation proud by clinching two medals in the women's wheelchair tennis singles and doubles categories.

Senator Owan Enoh, in his message to the athletes and officials, stated that Nigeria was able to join 20 other countries to compete for laurels at the Games despite dwindling resources, demonstrating the commitment of the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to poverty alleviation and empowerment of people living with disabilities through sports.

He explained that the participation of Team Nigeria at the competition, which is the first of its kind and held after over three and a half decades of the establishment of the African Sports Confederation of the Disabled/African Paralympic Committee (AfPC), will, in addition, afford the nation's para athletes an opportunity to experience a multi-para sporting event on the African continent.

The Minister informed us that the competition, with about 6,000 participants, will, among other things, serve as a catalyst for further development and promotion of para-sports in Africa. He restated the commitment of the present administration's resolve to ensuring the creation of an enabling environment for our athletes, and in particular, athletes living with disabilities in the country, not only to afford them the opportunity to showcase their sporting talents across the globe but also to raise the nation's flag high through podium finishes at all international competitions.

The Minister noted that although Team Nigeria has won only two medals so far at the ongoing competition, Nigerians will always be grateful to them for their patriotism, especially considering their excellent performances in other international competitions in the past.

Senator Owan Enoh added that as the Minister of Sports Development, he has passionate support for para-sports and thus will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that under his watch, the existing medium already created and dedicated to coordinate, promote, and manage the development of para-sports in Nigeria is strengthened for better performance.

This, he said, will make it possible to utilise para-sports as a veritable tool for accelerated social integration and inclusion of persons living with disabilities, in line with the policy thrust of the present administration.

The Minister, therefore, called on relevant stakeholders in the industry as well as sports-loving Nigerians to lend their support, especially towards the development of para-sports in the country, with a view to also giving the athletes a sense of belonging. Team Nigeria is expected back from the 10-day event on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Team Nigeria win two medals at 1st African Para Games in Ghana

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