Excitement is rising in Abeokuta as Nigeria finalises preparations for the maiden West Africa Zone A and B Para Games.
For many para-athletes, the event offers overdue recognition and long-sought dignity.
They see it as a rare chance to showcase talent while demanding long-neglected structural reforms in para sports.
For years, Nigerian para athletes have lamented poor funding, limited visibility, and unequal treatment across major competitions.
Their frustration persists in spite of producing some of Nigeria’s most consistent international triumphs.
One of them is Nwaozuzu Chituri, a national champion in discus, arm wrestling and wheelchair tennis.
Chituri said passion, rather than support, had sustained her long journey in sports.
“I don’t think I’m achieving anything; it’s just the love I have for the game,” she told the News Agency of Nigeria.
She said para-athletes had been left to struggle because of inadequate encouragement and poor institutional prioritisation.
“They’re not carrying us along the way they’re supposed to. People living with disabilities need extra care, more than able ones,” she said.
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Chituri said many athletes incur additional financial burdens just to participate.
“It’s the same game, but the prize is different. Is it encouraging? No, it’s discouraging,” she said.
She described athletes paying double transport fares because of mobility challenges.
“Some para-athletes carry two or three assistive devices. Transporters charge them extra every time,” she said.
Her story reflects the daily reality faced by many para sports competitors nationwide.
Alex Adewale, Nigeria’s number one wheelchair tennis player, echoed similar frustrations.
“I have been playing tennis since about 2005, so I belong to the class of veterans.
“I have been representing my state and the country. I have been to many countries and won laurels.
“I am the highest ranked player in Nigeria,” he noted, underscoring his long record of service.
Yet Adewale said his achievements had come in spite of significant constraints.
“I always plan to win, but I have many challenges. First, the equipment that I am currently using is outdated.
“I am just winning not because I am special or the best player. But I can still say I have the best sport gear; but outdated outside the world,” he said.
Adewale described exposure as a major missing link for para-athletes in Nigeria.
“In this country, especially in tennis, exposure is key. But right here in Nigeria, we have only one tournament for the whole calendar year for wheelchair tennis,” he said.
The situation, he said, leaves athletes unprepared for global competitions.
“We underperform because we lack the necessary tactics to withstand others. We lack confidence and motivation to face other para-athletes outside Nigeria,” he explained.
He blamed this on countries with regular competitions outperforming Nigeria easily.
Adewale said expecting miracles from athletes who compete once yearly was unrealistic.
“Imagine a para-athlete that plays only one competition for the whole year. What magic are you expecting such player to perform in international competition?” he asked.
He said consistent tournaments were essential to match global standards.
“In other climes, para-athletes play week in, week out with regular competitions,” he said.
He called such systems vital developmental tools missing in Nigeria, stressing that Nigeria’s para sports remain deeply under-funded.
“In my sport, tennis is not cheap, but the prize money for wheelchair tennis championships is too small.
“Sometimes N150,000 for players that come from far places like Borno, Sokoto or Port Harcourt,” he noted.
He described the amounts as “demeaning” for serious athletes.
“After removing all expenses, there won’t be anything left for para-athletes to live on,” he said.
Adewale also criticised the shrinking space for wheelchair tennis at national events.
“I don’t know why wheelchair tennis was removed from the National Sports Festival.
“In the space of 10 years now, we have only had two games in the sports festival,” he lamented.
He urged the government to take funding and inclusion seriously.
“If government can only support and fund us adequately, they will get the very best from us,” he said.
As Nigeria prepares to host the region’s first para games, athletes hope the event signals real change.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, outlined the significance of the upcoming event.
The competition, he said, will feature 10 para sports. These include Para Powerlifting, Para Swimming, Amputee Football and Wheelchair Tennis.
Others are Para Badminton, Para Table Tennis, Sitting Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball.
Olopade said the event comes at a critical time for regional para sports development.
“The West Africa Zone A and B Para Games represent a significant step toward strengthening regional unity,” he said.
He said the event would promote inclusivity across West African sporting communities.
“It provides a platform for athletes with disabilities to shine on an international stage,” he said.
Olopade said preparations were progressing smoothly. “With delegations from multiple countries set to arrive in days, we are fully ready,” he said.
He assured that facilities, logistics and security had been upgraded for a world-class competition.
Local organisers, he added, had worked tirelessly to meet international standards.
Officials say hosting the event will boost Nigeria’s reputation in para sports management.
For athletes, however, the focus remains on long-promised reforms.
Many say the event should spark structural improvements rather than temporary excitement.
They insist that equal prize money, modern equipment and regular competitions are essential.
They also want better travel allowances and accessible sporting facilities across states.
To them, the maiden West Africa Zone A and B Para Games is more than a continental gathering, but a plea for sustained investment and fair treatment.
It is also a reminder that para-athletes carry the nation’s colours with pride.
As the countdown continues, hopes to remain high. Whether the promised change arrives, athletes say, will define the event’s legacy.
For now, they wait, compete and hope the nation finally listens.
NAN
