• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

BUKOLA Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission NSC, has reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to strengthening para sports development in Nigeria ahead of the 3rd National Para Games scheduled to commence later this month. Olopade stated this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kola Daniel, on Friday in Abuja. He said the National Para Games will serve as a major platform to celebrate inclusivity. According to him, it will also identify and nurture the next generation of para sports champions who will represent the country on the global stage. Olopade described Nigeria's para athletes as some of the country's most consistent sporting ambassadors at major international competitions. He said Nigerian para athletes have continued to deliver outstanding performances at the Paralympic Games and the Commonwealth Games, winning medals and elevating the country's reputation in athletics, powerlifting, table tennis and wheelchair basketball. "Our love and commitment to para sports cannot be undermined. Para athletes have brought immense pride to this country, winning medals at the Paralympics and Commonwealth Games and consistently placing Nigeria on the global podium," he said. He said that the commission will continue to give equal attention, funding and developmental support to para sports alongside other sporting disciplines. Olopade, who previously served as President of wheelchair basketball in Nigeria, said his experience working with para athletes has given him a deeper understanding of their dedication and resilience. "Having served in wheelchair basketball administration, I understand firsthand the structure, dedication and resilience that define our para athletes. " They are disciplined, determined and patriotic. When given the right support system, they always deliver results for Nigeria," he said. Olopade said that grassroots competitions such as the National Para Games play a critical role in discovering and developing talents who will go on to represent the country at international competitions. "Events like this are critical to discovering the next generation of champions. The medals we celebrate at the Paralympics and Commonwealth Games do not happen by chance. " They begin from structured grassroots competitions like the National Para Games," he added. Olopade also reaffirmed that inclusivity remains a key pillar of the Commission's operational philosophy, stressing that no athlete should be marginalised because of disability. "Equal focus is not just a slogan for us; it is a policy direction. Every Nigerian athlete deserves opportunity, dignity and the platform to excel. " Our para athletes have proven time and again that ability is not defined by physical limitation but by strength of character and preparation," he said. He said the 3rd National Para Games aligns with the commission's broader mandate to expand sports participation across the country, deepen grassroots engagement and strengthen Nigeria's competitiveness in global sporting events. The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the event is scheduled to kick off on March 26 to April 3, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. NAN Source: https://realnewsmagazine.net/3rd-national-para-games-olopade-reaffirms-commitment-to-inclusivity/