In a landmark decision announced during the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the National Council on Sports held today in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the host of the 2024 National Sports Festival, has officially selected wheelchair basketball as one of its five optional sports—elevating it to a medal-winning event at the highly anticipated “Gateway Games.”
The National Sports Festival features 27 compulsory sports, while host states are granted the right to choose five optional sports, making up a total of 32 medal events.
Ogun State’s choice to include wheelchair basketball is being widely applauded as a progressive step towards greater inclusivity in Nigerian sports.
President of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation (NWBF), Seyi Johnson, welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm, calling it a “victory for para-sports and for all athletes living with disabilities.”
“This is a proud moment for wheelchair basketball,” Johnson said. “Although it’s not one of the 27 compulsory sports, Ogun State’s decision to include it as a medal-winning event shows true leadership and commitment to diversity in sport. Our athletes now have a national platform to showcase their talent and compete for medals.”
The inclusion is expected to boost visibility for wheelchair basketball and inspire other states to follow suit in future editions of the festival.
The 2024 National Sports Festival, themed “Gateway Games,” will take place in Ogun State from May 16 to 30, 2025, and is already shaping up to be one of the most inclusive and exciting editions yet.
