The captain of the Nigerian Men’s Paravolley Team, Muritala Mohammed, has called for increased investment in the disabled sports industry and more competitive opportunities for para-athletes in Nigeria.
Mohammed made the call after leading his team to a gold medal finish at the first West Africa Para Games (WAPARA) hosted in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The appeal highlights the need for sustained investment in Nigeria’s disabled sports sector, which has historically received minute attention and funding compared to mainstream sports.
The captain urged the leadership of the National Sports Commission and the Paralympics Committee of Nigeria to expose para-athletes to more competitions, saying this will create better opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“We still want more of this so that all the disabled people can come and develop their talents. We still want more leagues such as paravolleyball, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, parasoccer amputee football,” Mohammed said.
Despite producing medal-winning performances at international competitions, Nigerian para-athletes often struggle with inadequate training facilities, limited sponsorship opportunities, and insufficient exposure to competitive events that could enhance their skills and international rankings.
He emphasized that establishing more leagues would encourage more persons with disabilities to showcase their talents and participate in competitive sports.
“If there are more leagues, this will bring more disabled to come and show their talent,” Mohammed added.
The establishment of regular leagues for parasports would provide persons with disabilities with structured pathways for talent development, professional growth, and potential representation at continental and global competitions including the Paralympic Games.
Countries that have invested heavily in disabled sports infrastructure and regular competitive leagues have seen significant improvements in their Paralympic performances and increased participation rates among persons with disabilities in sports.
Such investment also creates employment opportunities for coaches, technical officials, sports scientists, and support staff specializing in adaptive sports, contributing to economic growth within the disability sector.
The success of the Nigerian Men’s Paravolley Team at the West Africa Para Games demonstrates the untapped potential within Nigeria’s disabled sports community and the benefits of providing competitive platforms for para-athletes.