As part of activities marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Raising Star Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) horganised her annual sporting event, tagged “Sport Fest.”
The theme for the year, “Let’s Play,” featured 10 public inclusive schools from Lagos Nigeria with over 300 persons at the Abalti Stadium in Lagos.
240 children and young persons with disabilities which include the deaf, blind, physically challenged, and neuro-divergent participated in diverse sports ranging from football, relay races, basketball, throw-in the rings, cards, to fill-in-the bottles.
The opening ceremony started with a Aliyah, a hearing impared girl, dancing ballet. This was followed with a football match between young persons with disabilities from State Senior and Junior High School Surulere.
Special guest at the event, The Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented reiterated his support the Ooni’s support for children with disabilities.
He said “Ooni is here to celebrate the abilities in every person with disabilities. We see abilities, we see potentials, and it’s our duty to continue to support this laudable event”.
Also speaking, Oyinkansola Babatunde, Raising Star Africa Operations Manager said: “It’s our committment at Raising Star Africa to ensure we organise inclusive sports that caters to the abilities of every child and young person with disabilities to mitigate the society’s attitudinal barriers towards persons with disabilities. There are so much potential locked up in children and young adults with disabilities and sports is one of the tools for social change that unlocks these potentials”.
Faith Adewoyin Communication Head of Raising Star Africa, in her closing remarks encouraged all stakeholders to join their voice in amplifying the voice of every child and young person with disabilities.
At the end of the event, Independent House was the overall winner with 5 gold medals, 3 silvers, and 2 bronze.
The Ability House emerged the winner among the students with Intellectual disabilities while Pacelli Schools were crowned winner among students who are visually impaired (blind).
Other guests at the event included the representative of Flour Mills of Nigeria; representative of Abisola Dokunmu, Permanent Secretary for Lagos State Ministry of Education, from, and Sports Ministers from Education District (IV).
The event was sponsored by Royal African Foundation, FMN, BIC, and ToyinFSanni Foundation.