A nation that fails to recognise and honour the labour of her heroes past stands to lose the vital link to a progressive future.
This is the unanimous view of some retired and active special athletes, including Paralympic Games medalists, who have voiced their annoyance at being neglected and treated poorly by successive governments despite winning more laurels and outclassing their able bodied counterparts at major continental and global championships.
For years, these para-athletes have shown exceptional resilience, determination and skill on both national and international stages, yet, they find themselves battling not only their disabilities, but survival.
Even though the Paralympic Games began in Rome, Italy in 1960, Nigeria debuted at the Games in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain with six male athletes competing in tract and field, powerlifting and table tennis.
It was a highly successful first shot at the Games, with sprinter Adeoye Ajibola breaking the world records in both the 100m and 200m to win gold in both events.
Ever since, Nigeria has participated in every subsequent editions (eight) of the Paralympics, winning a combined 40 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze medals, for a total of 80 medals at the global sports showpiece.
In comparison, their able bodied counterparts, who started competing at the Olympic Games in 1952 and have appeared at 17 editions, have an abysmal three gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze, for a total of 27 medals to their name.
However, the way the first Paralympian who won a medal for the country, Ajibola, who died an unsung hero in 2011, summarises the plight of the Nigerian special athlete.
I’m really sad that the government neglected my husband when we needed help to save his life. Ajibola, with his disability, brought honour to this country in international competitions and now he has gone and nobody is saying anything,” she lamented.
Nigeria wheelchair tennis star, Foluke Shittu, who is currently ranked No.58 in the world, believes para-athletes welfare has never been a priority in the country.
France-based Shittu said, “Nigeria is not worth dying for because they do not take care of their athletes.
“In Europe, physically challenged athletes are well taken care of and that is why you always see them excel and most Nigerians are desperate to switch nationality.
Their government provides them with the necessary support to compete well and live fine. Unlike in Nigeria, a physically challenged athlete in Europe gets monthly allowances.”
Shittu partnered Kafayat Omisore to defeat Tanzania’s duo Lucy Shirima and Rehema Selemani 2-0 (7-5, 6-4) to win bronze at the recent 2023 Africa Para Games in Accra, Ghana.
“They are just killing our sports and they know we don’t have another occupation. When we excel and qualify for championships, they complain that there’s no money to fund our trip and that is why I’m trying my best to see how I can help myself in a way to qualify for the Paralympics in France,” Shittu added.
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