Lagos To Empower Special Athletes

Lagos State Ministry of Youths Sports and Social Development, MYSSD, has promised disabled athletes in the state of support to realise their potential in sports irrespective of their physical challenges.

Head of Planning in the ministry, Mrs. Shade Lawal, said at a talk show organised by the Sports Office of the MYSSD, in conjunction with F-PLUS CONCEPT, a corporate organisation at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, told disabled athletes: “You can make a difference with your lives through sports irrespective of the physical challenges you are facing. I want to assure you that the Lagos State government will be there for you to realise your dream.”

She charged the disabled athletes to come up with ideas on how they can contribute positively to the society.

The one-day event that suffered last minute postponement last year drew over 100 participants, notably athletes from various sports federations that have offices at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Some of the speakers that spoke on the theme: Empowering and unleashing the potential of people living with disabilities through Sports, include Dr. Babatunde Awelenje from the Paralympics Federation, Dr. Sikuade Jagun, a motivational speaker, David Ayanele from the Centre for People With Disabilities and Dr. Sheu Adebayo from DFID/SAVI, a partnership program with Lagos State.

In his speech, Dr. Awelenje said there are many benefits people with disabilities can derive in the society if they take sports as a career, adding that disability is part of human condition to which anybody is vulnerable due to factors like old age, disease, accident and trauma.

Some of the participants that spoke to P.M.Sports said the one day talk show was an eye opener for them and expressed the hope that more of such events would be organised from time to time by the Lagos State government.

—Bamidele Olowosagba