“Africa rises when every African rises.” — Samson Deen
The West African Paralympic Movement reached a historic milestone on Friday night as Mr. Samson Deen, President of the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC), delivered a commanding keynote address to officially inaugurate the 1st West Africa Para Games in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking before the Governor of Ogun State, government ministers, traditional authorities, sports administrators and hundreds of athletes, Deen declared that the Games represent “not merely a sporting event, but the ignition of a continental movement of dignity, equality, and human possibility.”
A Historic Moment for African Sports
In his address, Mr. Deen drew a powerful comparison between the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) of 1957 and this pioneering Para Games event, noting that Africa’s most enduring institutions were born from courage, unity, and vision.
“What AFCON became to football, Para Sports must now become to Africa,”
he stated, underscoring the Games as a major step toward fully institutionalising Para Sports across the continent.
ecognising Champions of Inclusion
Mr. Deen expressed profound appreciation to the Government of Nigeria for championing inclusive sporting development, commending:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for advancing inclusive national policies;
Vice President Kashim Shettima, for promoting youth empowerment and sports diplomacy;
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Patron of the African Paralympic Movement;
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Local Organizing Committee for hosting a world-class event;
The National Sports Commission; and
NPC Nigeria President Sunday Odebode, for their strong leadership.
He declared:
“Ghana lit the flame. Nigeria expands the vision. West Africa now leads the continent.”
The Continental Impact of Para Sports
Highlighting the transformational power of Para Sports, Deen outlined six major benefits for Africa:
national unity, youth empowerment, sports tourism, job creation, global moral leadership, and the restoration of Africa’s dignity on the world stage.
He urged African leaders to elevate Para Sports as a continental development priority, describing 2025 as a turning point in Africa’s social and sporting history.
Athletes: The Heart of the Movement
In one of the evening’s most emotional moments, Mr. Deen turned to the athletes and said:
“You are the heroes of this new era. You rise where others fall. You break barriers others surrender to.”
He emphasized that their performances will influence national policies and reshape societal perceptions of disability across the region.
A Bold Vision for the Future
Mr. Deen also laid out a forward-looking vision in which:
African stadiums are fully accessible,
Para Sports have dedicated budget lines,
Para athletes become celebrated household names, and
Inclusion becomes a constitutional commitment not a ceremonial gesture.
He described this vision as “not a dream, but a decision, one that begins here in Abeokuta.”
Games Officially Declared Open
With the stadium erupting in applause, Mr. Deen proclaimed:
“With the blessings of our leaders, with the spirit of AFCON 1957, with the flame lit in Accra 2023, and with the courage of our athletes, I declare the 1st West Africa Para Games officially open.”
Moments later, fireworks illuminated the Abeokuta skyline as the historic ceremony concluded in celebration and unity.
A Continental Chapter Begins
The 1st West Africa Para Games brings together athletes from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, Liberia, Benin, Togo, The Gambia, Guinea, Cape Verde, DR Congo, and Cameroon. marking the dawn of a new era in Africa’s sporting evolution.
Abeokuta now stands as the birthplace of a bold continental vision built on inclusion, excellence, and unity.
“Together, we rise. Together, we win.”
STORY BY: KOJO BAAKO
