The Abia State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ikechi Mgboji has encouraged schools to join the sports awareness campaign for persons with disabilities.
This, he said, would enable them contribute to the success of the 2016 United Nations Day for Persons with Disabilities celebration in Abia State.
He made the call in Umuahia, Abia State capital when he received the Senior Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Disability and Chairman Planning Committee of the forthcoming National Para-Badminton Championship, Eze Urasi.
He noted that “sports has become the highest industry accommodating and advancing the economic, socio and political wellbeing of the physically challenged in our society” and urged the committee to go to schools to relay the awareness to students for their parents’ support.
The President/Coordinator of the Para-badminton Federation of Nigeria, Samuel Ekeoma in his address said that the essence of the visit was to intimate the Education Commissioner on the hosting of the 3rd annual national championship in Umuahia from November 30 to December 3, 2016.
He said: “Para-badminton event is among the sports that has been accepted into Paralympics games by the International Paralympics Committee (IPC).
“It is expected to have its first appearance in the global highest fiesta come 2020 Paralympics games in Tokyo, Japan.
“We are very eager to produce a National Team for Nigeria as we are poised to make a world history among the nations that would feature in the maiden edition of Para-badminton event in the Paralympics games.”
Meanwhile about seven states that include Abia, Delta, Edo, Imo, Kwara, Ogun and Plateau have entered for the Para-badminton event being hosted by Abia.