By Goodluck Ikiebe in Abuja.
The Federal Government has called on the newly elected board members of Para Sports Federations in the country to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that they develop Para Sports to an enviable height.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, 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.
The Minister, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, in its bid to give the 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.
“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 said.
He also 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 new officials to give their best to ensuring the upliftment of Para games in Nigeria.
While advising 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 Board’s commitment to ensure the success of Para Sports, especially at the Commonwealth Games commencing in Birmingham next week.
The Director, Press and Public Relations, Me hammed Manga, said that the Para Sports Federations inaugurated include: Amputee Football, Para-Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Swimming, Para Soccer and Sitting Volleyball.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
