Olopade Reaffirms Unwavering Commitment To Para Sports Excellence

Olopade Reaffirms Unwavering Commitment To Para Sports Excellence

By Wale Oyekanmi

In a passionate address, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has reiterated the commission’s unrelenting support for para athletes, emphasizing that they are at the forefront of Nigeria’s sports development agenda.

“I have spent the last 25 years ensuring that para sports is at the forefront, which is why people call me ‘Oba-Aro’ (King of Special People),” Olopade declared. He credited NSC Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, for sharing his vision, stating, “My chairman also has a huge love for Para Sports men and women. Anybody who wants to work in this federation must ensure that para sports is put in the forefront.”

The NSC DG highlighted Nigeria’s recent triumph at the West African Para Games in Abeokuta, where the country dominated the competition, winning over 138 gold medals. “That tells you that we do not joke with our para athletes,” he said with pride. This stellar performance, he noted, is a testament to the talent pool and dedication of Nigerian para athletes.

Looking ahead to a packed calendar of competitions, including football, cycling, swimming, and athletics world relay, Olopade stressed the importance of prioritizing athletes’ welfare. 

“We have a lot of competition coming up… to ensure that they do well, we must put first the welfare of the athletes in front burner,” he emphasized. 

“If you look after Nigerian athletes, it is evident that they look after the nation,” he added, referencing President Bola Tinubu’s inspiring message: “Do well for Nigeria and an appreciative nation awaits you.”

Olopade urged athletes to seize the moment, leveraging their God-given talents to transform their lives and contribute to national development. 

“I believe they have seen that this is not a time to joke with your God-given talents. This is the time for you to use your God-given talents to enrich your pocket, empower your family, get recognized by the country, and above all, become a world beater,” he said with conviction.

With robust support systems in place, Olopade expressed bullish optimism about Nigeria’s prospects in 2026. “With all of this in place, we are very optimistic about this year, we believe this year will be even better than last year, which was a huge achievement,” he concluded.