By Ado Salisu
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has successfully conducted elections and inaugurated the boards of various Nigeria Para Sports Federations, with a clear mandate to align their operations with the RHINSE (Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy) agenda of the Commission.
New boards were elected across several para sports federations, including the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation, Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Soccer, Para Swimming, Para Volleyball, and Para Badminton, in an exercise widely described as free, fair, and credible.
In Amputee Football, former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Opukiri Michael Jones-Ere, emerged as President, while Joshua Dauda Bungon became Vice President.
In Para Athletics, Etti Rafiu Olawale was elected President, with Mohammed Musa Nafiu as Vice President.
For Para Powerlifting, delegates unanimously elected sports philanthropist Kingsley James Awodi as President, while Chief Akutekwe Patrick (MON) emerged as Vice President. In the Nigeria Para Soccer Federation, Alhaji Kaka Mallam was elected President, with Sherifat Bola Araoye as Vice President.
In Para Swimming, Adeyemi Adeshina Adeola emerged as President, while Dr. Ahmed Alao was elected Vice President.
In Para Volleyball, Muhammed Abbah Isa was voted President, with Hon. Jim Okolo as Vice President.
Inaugurating the new boards, the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, emphasized that sports federations are the bedrock of the country’s sports development.
He charged the newly elected boards and their presidents to focus on building lasting legacies through their expertise and dedication.
“What we have successfully done today is to give you all the platform to come on board and contribute your quota to building a sustainable sports economy, especially within the Nigerian para sports community.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is very intentional about his revolution for Nigerian sports, and para sports is a very cardinal part of that aspiration,” he said.
The Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, also congratulated the newly elected board members, commending the quality of leadership that emerged across the federations.
“The results of these elections have shown that Nigerian sports is becoming more attractive to individuals who can add value to the current reform agenda in the country’s sports sector.
“Para sports is very key to the overall objectives of the Sports Commission, and the leadership of the NSC will continue to prioritize its growth. We have no doubt that the new boards are more than capable of taking special sports to greater heights,” he said.
