Abuja 2026 Para Games close on a high

...As Shehu Dikko hails Para stars

 

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 

 

 

The curtain has fallen on the 3rd National Para Games in Abuja but not without a powerful statement.

From March 31 to April 3, Nigeria’s finest para-athletes turned the nation’s capital into a theatre of grit, glory, and unbreakable spirit, delivering a competition that was as inspiring as it was fiercely contested.

At the closing ceremony, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, didn’t hold back in his praise. 

He hailed the athletes not just for medals won, but for redefining what sport means in a nation pushing for greater inclusion.

“This was more than a competition,” Dikko declared. “It was courage on display. It was resilience in motion. It was Nigeria at its proudest.”

The Games, staged in Abuja, lived up to that billing, showcasing athletes who refused to be defined by limitations, instead rewriting narratives with every race, lift, and throw.

A strong message of inclusion echoed throughout the ceremony, with special recognition given to Oluremi Tinubu for her continued advocacy for vulnerable groups and national development.

Represented by Nana Shettima, the First Lady’s presence reinforced the growing national commitment to ensuring that no talent goes unseen.

Beyond the applause and accolades, the Commission used the moment to spotlight a bigger game plan, one backed by the vision of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Under the Renewed Hope agenda, sports in Nigeria are undergoing a structural reset, with bold reforms targeting funding, infrastructure, and long-term investment.

From a revamped funding architecture to the proposed Sports Infrastructure Development Bond, the message was clear: Nigerian sports is no longer playing small.

Consistently among Nigeria’s most successful representatives on the global stage, they are now being positioned not just as participants but as pillars of the nation’s sporting future.

As the lights dim on Abuja 2026, one thing is certain: this wasn’t an ending.