Team Nigeria has made history by winning the first edition of the West Africa Para Games held in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
After six days of entertaining and compelling action from the sub region’s finest Para athletes, Nigeria reinstated its dominance as the continent’s number one Para country by emerging first with an overwhelming lead on the medals table ahead of the rest.
Nigeria won a total of 59 Gold , 39 silver and 31 bronze medals while Benin Republic finished in a distant second with 4 gold , 4 silver and 14 bronze medals.
Ghana emerged third on the medals table with a total of 39 medals- 3 Gold , 15 silver and 21 bronze medals.
Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire completed the top five on the medals table with 4th and 5th positions respectively.
Cameroon won 1 Gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze while the Ivory coast won 1 Gold and zero silver and bronze medals.
Meanwhile the Nigeria Amputee football team won the last Gold medal of the Competition when they defeated Liberia 1-0 in the final on Wednesday as part of the activities to mark the closing ceremony.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has commended all the participating athletes describing their involvement in the competition as a history making feat that will be remembered for a long time.
He said: “This is history in the making and the over 400 Para athletes that took part in it from all over the West Africa sub region are the true heroes of African Sports.
“I must also commend the Government of Ogun State for their unwavering support for Sports Development. Ogun state has continually keyed into our Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy ( RHINSE ).
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade has also commended what he described as a true heroes’ performance from all the participating countries especially Team Nigeria athletes.
He said: “At the NSC, we are so proud to be part of these games which has given more feasibility and awareness to Para Sports and given renewed hope to people living with disabilities”.
“I can assure everyone that the Commission is even more committed to hosting more international Para competitions to further advance the growth of Para Sports and the success recorded with these games”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the President of the Paralympic committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for giving people living with disabilities every support they truly deserve through the National Sports Commission.
He said: “This history making competition wouldn’t have been possible if not for the quality of the two men running Nigerian Sports, in Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon Bukola Olopade. They are the best thing that has ever happened to Para sports in Nigeria.”
He also thanked the members of the Local organising Committee of the Games led by Victor Achakpo for their total commitment to the successful hosting of the games.
