NAWIS Advocate More Recognition for Women in Sports Policy Making Bodies; Wants National Honours Awards for Podium Para-Athletes
By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The leadership of the National Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS) have called on the Federal Ministry of Sports and other sporting authorities in the country to prioritize and invest more in Para-Sports, if Nigeria is to sustain her rating as a powerhouse, in para sports for the foreseeable future.
The National President of NAWIS, Professor Adefunke Suleiman made this call, while reserving praise for Team Nigeria athletes to the just concluded 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France.
In a statement released to the media by the spokeswoman of the organization, Oluwafunmike Kanjuni the NAWIS helmswoman also celebrated six of the podium athletes for winning seven of the medals; 2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals; Nigeria won in Paris, to place overall 40th at the games.
The heroins are Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won Gold in Para-Powerlifting + 86 kg; Esther Nworgu who got a Silver medal in Para-Powerlifting 41 kg; and Bose Omolayo who also won Silver in Para-Powerlifting 79 kg.
Others are Onyinyechi Mark who won the Para- Powerlifting 61 kg Gold; Flora Ugwunwa, winner of the Women’s Javelin throw F54 Silver medal; and Mariam Eniola Bolaji Badminton Women’s Singles SL3 Bronze medalist.
The only man that medaled at the Paralympics is Isau Ogunkunle , who won Bronze in Table Tennis Singles Class 4, also received a thumbs up from the NAWIS leadership.
Also commenting on the feat performed by the Team Nigeria Para-Athletes, the 1st Vice President of NAWIS, Deputy Comptroller of Immigrations, Nkechi Ezeugwu said with what was achieved in Paris, where Nigeria’s 2 Gold medals were won by women, the dominance of women in Nigeria Sports should be given their rightful dues, and no longer taken for granted.
“At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, all the 12 Gold medals won by Nigeria, came via women [one was eventually chalked-off after a doping infraction]. At present Tobi Amusan (100m Hurdles) is Nigeria’s first and only World Champion and record holder in track and field”; she recalled.
The former National Grade 1 football referee added; “even at the Olympics, the women – Amusan, Ese [Brume], Blessing [Oborodudu] and Odunayo Adekuroye, and star girl Favour Ofili represented our best and elusive chances of winning medals”. Mrs. Ezeugwu asserted.
Like the President, Mrs. Ezeugwu believes the time has come for more women to be included in the Sports ecosystem, including the highest decision and policy making organs, for the gains made in recent years, to be sustained and improved upon.
She also echoed the wishes of the NAWIS President, Professor Adefunke Suleiman that the gladiators that won medals for Nigeria at the Paralympics be handsomely rewarded, and given national honours awards.
