By Ado Salisu
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has successfully conducted elections and inaugurated the boards of Nigeria’s Para Sports Federations, with a mandate to align their activities with the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy (RHINSE) agenda of the Commission.
The exercise produced new leadership across several federations, including Amputee Football, Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Soccer, Para Swimming, Para Volleyball, and Para Badminton. The elections were 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 was elected Vice President. In Para Athletics, Etti Rafiu Olawale became 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 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 President, while Dr. Ahmed Alao was elected Vice President. For Para Volleyball, Muhammed Abbah Isa was elected President, with Hon. Jim Okolo as Vice President.
In his remarks during the inauguration, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko described sports federations as the bedrock of national sports development, charging the new executives to focus on building lasting legacies through their expertise and commitment.
“What we have successfully done today is to give you all the platform to contribute your quota towards building a sustainable sports economy, especially in the Nigeria Para sports community,” he said.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is “very intentional about his revolution for Nigerian sports,” noting that para sports remains a key component of the administration’s sports development agenda.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, congratulated the newly elected board members and commended the quality of leadership that emerged across the federations.
“The results of these elections have shown that Nigerian sports is becoming more attractive to people who can add value to the ongoing reform agenda in the sector,” he said.
Olopade reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the growth of para sports, adding that the new boards are expected to strengthen efforts to take special sports to greater heights.
