AFEDEV Set for historic Wheelchair American Football exhibition in Lagos

By Trust Ittai

 

 

Nigeria is set to witness a major milestone in the development of inclusive sports as the American Football Elite Development (AFEDEV) prepares to stage the maiden Wheelchair American Football Exhibition Game at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) basketball court, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on September 10.

The one-day event is designed not only to introduce wheelchair American football to a wider Nigerian audience but also to lay the foundation for a structured adaptive league that will provide athletes with disabilities an opportunity to compete, develop their talents and pursue sporting careers.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, AFEDEV founder, Lawrence Ojaideh, described the initiative as a historic step for American football in Nigeria, stressing that the organisation's vision goes beyond staging a single exhibition.

“As we gather for this press conference, we are not just announcing an upcoming Exhibition Game; we are unveiling a bold, comprehensive vision for the future of American football in Nigeria through American Football Elite Development,” Ojaideh said.

He explained that AFEDEV is working towards creating a self-sustaining sporting ecosystem where athletes, irrespective of their physical capabilities, can have a structured pathway to excel and build careers.

“Our mission is to build a complete, self-sustaining ecosystem where every athlete, regardless of physical capability, has a structured pathway to excel, compete, and build a career,” he added.

He described the wheelchair exhibition as a demonstration of AFEDEV's belief that sports should be accessible to everyone, with adaptability playing a central role in achieving athletic excellence.

A board member of AFEDEV, Oluwasanmi Oluyomi, represented at the briefing by Lagos State Sports Commission Director Adejuwon Adesoye, said the initiative was a statement that passion, athletic excellence and competitive spirit should have no barriers.

According to him, the September 10 exhibition will serve as the launching pad for a fully structured adaptive league, with plans for specialised training, certified adaptive equipment and dedicated athlete-care programmes.

Four teams:

• Lagos Dynamos

• Liberty Pioneers

• Iron Invicta

• Atlantic Chargers

They will compete in a knockout format, with the surviving teams advancing to the final to determine the inaugural exhibition champion.

Also speaking on the objectives of the event, AFEDEV Board Member and former Chief Technology Officer, Josiah Onu-Orie, urged members of the public to attend and support the athletes while emphasising the broader opportunities the platform is expected to create.

Onu-Orie said registration for participants is free and encourages prospective athletes to take advantage of the opportunity.

“The thrust of this event is to focus on the overall outcome and ensure that participants register with us. Registration is free,” he said.

He added that the exhibition is expected to go beyond the sporting contest by creating opportunities for networking, business development, talent discovery and meaningful conversations among athletes, organisations, sponsors and other stakeholders.

According to him, many young people possess talent and ability but require the right platform and guidance to transform those abilities into productive opportunities.

He also stressed the importance of visibility for the organisations and businesses supporting the initiative, noting that the event would provide sponsors, partners and the AFEDEV foundation with an opportunity to showcase their contributions.

Onu-Orie called on more organisations, businesses and individuals to support the initiative, saying their involvement would be crucial to achieving AFEDEV's long-term objectives.

The exhibition is therefore expected to serve as more than a competition, with AFEDEV positioning wheelchair American football as a potential pathway for inclusion, talent development, entrepreneurship and career opportunities within Nigeria's growing American football ecosystem.

With the September 10 event approaching, organisers are inviting sports enthusiasts, disability advocates, potential sponsors, corporate organisations and members of the public to the National Stadium to witness what could mark the beginning of a new chapter for adaptive American football in Nigeria.