BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
THE Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed that prioritising the needs of Nigeria’s special athletes is a core component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda under the revamped National Sports Commission.
Speaking at the final of the inaugural Elite Wheelchair Basketball Championship held at the National Stadium, Lagos, over the weekend, Olopade emphasised the government’s commitment to giving every sport, including para-sports, the attention it deserves.
“The mandate of Mr President is clear: to ensure a sustainable sports economy is built by maximising the potential of every sport,” Olopade stated. He further stressed that wheelchair basketball and other para-sports would not be overlooked in this renewed push to develop Nigerian sports.
“I must state here that myself and the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, are totally committed to ensuring that you guys in wheelchair basketball, like every other para-sport, feel the impact of the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President. This is why events of this nature, as small as they may appear, will always be appreciated and supported by the Commission,” he said.
Olopade expressed delight at the progress made in wheelchair basketball, noting its steady growth from his tenure as the sport’s president. He praised the efforts of the tournament organisers, Musibau and his wife, both captains of the Nigerian wheelchair basketball team now based in France.
“This is a very good initiative from Musibau and his wife. For them to return home and put this together shows how much the sport has continued to grow in the country,” he added.
The Elite Wheelchair Basketball Championship concluded with Ogun State claiming victory after an exciting final against Oyo State. Lagos State secured third place by defeating Kwara State in the third-place match.
