The Lagos State Para-powerlifting Association in conjunction with the Lagos State Sports Commission organized a one-day championship held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

As part of the efforts of the association to continue to put athletes in competitive shape and improve their strength, skills and techniques ahead of national and international championships, the event featured five different weights: 50kg, 55kg, 67kg, 75kg and 85kg.

The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission LSSC, Lekan Fatodu, ably represented by the Director Public Affairs,Titilayo Oshodi-Eko, noted that the essence of the championship is to consolidate on the THEMES plus agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu particularly to give platform to the People living with disabilities to showcase their sporting skills.

He stressed that the state government under Governor Sanwo-Olu is working round the clock to ensure that para athletes get the same attention being giving to their able counterparts. Having draped the state colours at the second edition of the National Para-Games in Abuja, Fatodu reiterated that the state would continue to give maximum attention to sports development irrespective of the athletes status.

According to the Chairman, Lagos State Para-Powerlifting Association, Dr Babatunde Awelenje, adaptive sports is one of tool to empower people living with disabilities and the championship enabled the state to showcase athletes and give them opportunity to express their talent.

No fewer 30 male and female athletes drawn from different parts of the state competed at the championship which started with the preliminaries, Awelenje expressed commitment of the association to organize regular competitions to engage and keep the athletes busy.

While acknowledging the support of the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu towards the success of the event, Awelenje commended the Lagos State Government for creating the enabling environment for the people living with disabilities to excel in sports and promote self-development for para-athletes.

He revealed that the association will organize another championship with collaborative support of the Lagos State Sports Commission before the end of the year.

In his remarks, Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Sports Development, Damilare Orimoloye highlighted that the state will not rest on its oars when it comes to sports development, adding that people living with disabilities will be encouraged to participate actively in sporting activities.

The athletes who represented the state at different competitions including, the second edition of the National Para-Games held last year in Abuja, commended the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Sports Commission for supporting the association to stage the championship.

The athletes called for more competitions to enhance the growth of the Para-Powerlifting, discover new athletes for the state and the PLWDs a sense of belonging.

At the end of the championship, cash prizes were presented to the top three athletes in various weight categories.

The National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Ambassador (Rev). Samuel Ikpea has joined millions of football stakeholders and enthusiasts to commiserate with the members of the Nigeria football community on the death of Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams.

Hon. Adams, who was the Chairman of the House Of Representatives’ Committee On Youth and Sports, passed on Tuesday, July 16th, 2024, a protracted illness.

In the message of condolence, Ikpea expressed his sadness and grief on the passing of Hon. Adams, which he remarked happened at a period of regeneration of sports in Nigeria.

The boss of NFSC, renowned as Nigeria and Africa’s foremost football fans group, recalled the brief, but momentous achievements and feats of Adams, during his time as General Manager of Remo Stars football club, and also, as President of Kada Stars football club, Kaduna.

“The news of the death of Hon. Adams came to us as a rude and unexpected shock, that would take some time to go away from our hearts,” Ikpea said.

“In his brief sojourn on this earth and particularly, in football and sports, Hon. Adams certainly left indelible marks on the sands of time. We are proud of his life and times.

“We’re pained, but we must continue to thank God for everything. On behalf of all the members of NFSC, at home and in the diaspora, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to his families and associates.

“We pray that God strengthens the family emotionally and spiritually. May God also strengthen and bless all stakeholders in Nigeria sports,” Ikpea prayed.

Ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France Capital starting next month, Nigeria weightlifters have started intense camping, hoping to conquer the world.

The duo of Lawal Rafiatu Folashade and Eze Joy Ọgbonne are Nigeria’s weightlifting flagbearers at the Olympics.

Lawal and Eze are the only two weightlifters who qualified for the Olympics following the International Weightlifting Federation, IWF May 2024 Olympic Qualification Rankings released last week.

Lawal, 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 Africa Games gold medalist qualified for the Olympics in the 59kg women’s category after she was ranked 8th with a total of 227kg.

Eze, 2023 Africa Games gold medalist, on her part, was ranked 9th in the 71kg women’s category with a total of 239kg.

Nigeria could have had three lifters at Paris but Edidiong Umoafia who won three gold medals at the African Games in Accra, had a total of 319kg in the 73kg men’s category was ranked 24th.

In the ranking released by IWF, only athletes who are ranked between 1 and 10 qualified for the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF, under the able leadership of Dr Ibrahim Abdul is leaving no stones unturned in ensuring that the weightlifters made Nigerians proud at the Olympics.

The federation, shortly after the athletes returned from Africa Games in March, encamped them in Abuja where they have been training since April 24, 2024.

NWF President, Dr Ibrahim Abdul told journalists in Abuja on Monday, while announcing the Federal Government’s general camping for all Olympic athletes, that the federation started camping ahead of time in order to keep the athletes in shape.

The President who lauded the athletes for their heroics at the Accra 2023 Africa Games, said the early camping became imperative so as to not allow the weightlifters lose their competitive mood.

“First and foremost, the Federal Government, through the Honourable Minister for Sports, Senator John Enoh has opened general camping for all the athletes who will be participating in the Olympics. We at the Weightlifting federation want to use this medium to thank the minister for his efforts in starting camping for the athletes.

“On our part as a federation, our two athletes, Lawal Rufiatu and Eze Joy, who are the only two Weightlifters we have for the Olympics, have been in camp since April 24. The moment they returned from the Africa Games, we didn’t allow them much time. We sent them to camp, at the High Performance Centre, here in Abuja and they have been doing well.

“The reason we started camping early is because we want to keep them in competitive mood. You will recall that both of them won three gold medals each at the African Games, so we felt it is important we don’t allow them to lose their competitive spirit,” he said.

Lawal and Eze will join the other Olympic athletes in Germany from first July, in continuation of their preparations before they fly into France for the Olympic Games.