Ado Salisu
The National Sports Commission NSC has successfully conducted elections and inaugurated new boards for Nigeria’s Para Sports Federations, charging the newly elected executives to drive reforms in line with the Commission’s RHINSE (Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy) agenda.
The elections, which covered several para sports federations, including amputee football, para athletics, para powerlifting, para soccer, para swimming, para volleyball and para badminton, were widely described as free, fair and credible.
In the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation, former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Opukiri Michael Jones-Ere, emerged as President, while Joshua Dauda Bungon was elected Vice President. In Nigeria Para Athletics Federation, Etti Rafiu Olawale was elected President, with Mohammed Musa Nafiu as Vice President.
Delegates unanimously elected sports philanthropist Kingsley James Awodi as President of the Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation, while Akutekwe Patrick emerged Vice President. In the Nigeria Para Soccer Federation, Kaka Mallam was elected President, with Sherifat Bola Araoye serving as Vice President.
For the Nigeria Para Swimming Federation, Adeyemi Adeshina Adeola emerged President, while Ahmed Alao was elected Vice President. In the Nigeria Para Volleyball Federation, Muhammed Abbah Isa was elected President, with Jim Okolo as Vice President.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, described sports federations as the foundation of Nigeria’s sporting development. He urged the newly inaugurated boards to leverage their experience and expertise to build lasting legacies while contributing to a sustainable sports economy.
Dikko said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to transforming Nigerian sports, stressing that para sports occupy a central place in the administration’s vision for the sector.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, congratulated the newly elected officials, noting that the calibre of individuals elected reflects growing confidence in the ongoing reforms within Nigerian sports. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting para sports and expressed confidence that the new leadership would work closely with the NSC to elevate special sports in Nigeria.