Deaf athletes on Monday blocked the entrance of the National Stadium in protest against the removal of deaf sports from the list of events at the forthcoming National Sports Festival to be hosted in Enugu.
The multi-sport event is set to take place from November 27 to December 11, 2026.
The protesters, some of whom carried placards, gathered at the stadium gate to demand that the relevant sports authorities reconsider the decision and reinstate deaf sports in the festival programme.
One of the placards was addressed to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Bukola Olopade, appealing to him to consider including deaf sports alongside para sports at the festival in Enugu.
The exclusion has raised concerns about the participation of deaf athletes in the national sporting fiesta, and about the need to ensure that athletes with disabilities are given equal opportunities to showcase their talents.
The development has also put the spotlight on inclusivity in Nigerian sports, with questions arising over the consideration given to athletes with hearing impairments in the planning and organisation of the National Sports Festival.
