1st S/W Para Powerlifting Developmental Championship Sets Ijebu Ode Agog

The 1st SouthWest Para-Powerlifting Developmental Championship put together by the Ogun Para powerlifting association this Monday got underway at the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode.

The championship tagged “Using Sports To Eliminate street begging” was not only to discover talents but to discourage the act of street begging.

At the Opening ceremony, the technical director, Para Powerlifting Federation of Nigeria, Mrs Joy Maiyaki said sports remained a vehicle that would help to eliminate all forms of social vices including begging in the society.

Mrs Maiyaki who noted that the federation was working with state associations to develop the game said with the equipment acquired by the association, the sky would be the limit of the state in the sport.

Mrs Maiyaki who expressed satisfaction with the performance of the newly discovered athletes commended the efforts of the state association to develop the game at the grassroots level.

Also, The National vice president who is the Ogun state chairman of Para powerlifting, Deacon Gbolahan Eweje commended the state government for its support towards the successful hosting of the championship.

Two newly discovered physically challenged persons, Tahiru Adamu and Aminu Abdullahi who decided to stop the habit of begging and embrace the sport said their desire was to represent the country at national level.

The Para powerlifting head coach in Ogun state, Mrs Oluwakemi Oyebola said the association would continue to monitor and nurture the new athletes.

120 male and female athletes drawn from the southwest region of Nigeria are competing for different weight categories with the theme “eliminating street begging through sports”