Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, is set to witness a surge of energy and anticipation as athletes, officials, and sports enthusiasts gather for the 3rd National Para-Sports Festival, scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
The event, which is steadily gaining prominence within the country’s sporting ecosystem, represents a significant stride in Nigeria’s pursuit of inclusivity, elite performance development, and the recognition of athletes with disabilities.
As a flagship event in Nigeria’s para sports calendar, the festival will assemble competitors from across the federation to participate in a diverse array of disciplines. Beyond competition, it offers a platform to celebrate resilience, showcase talent and reinforce the unifying power of sport in bridging social divides.
The opening ceremony will be led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, alongside the Director General, Bukola Olopade. Both officials have reiterated that the Games underscore Nigeria’s firm commitment to developing and promoting inclusive sports at all levels.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Olopade described the event as more than a sporting contest, emphasising its role in celebrating courage, breaking societal barriers and inspiring a new generation of athletes. The competition will feature a wide range of sports, including para athletics, wheelchair basketball, para powerlifting and amputee football, among others.
In total, events scheduled for the Games include Amputee Football, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Canoe, Para Cycling, Para Karate, Para Powerlifting, Para Shooting, Para Soccer, Para Swimming, Para Taekwondo, Para Table Tennis, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis, reflecting the growing depth and diversity of para sports in Nigeria.
Although this is only the third edition of the festival, it has already begun to establish a distinct identity within Nigeria’s broader sports framework. The maiden edition in 2022, which was largely experimental but ambitious in scope, featured over 4,000 para-athletes from 21 states competing in 15 sports. Bayelsa State emerged as the overall champion, setting a benchmark for subsequent competitions.
That inaugural outing laid the groundwork for standardising classification systems, aligning rules with global best practices and identifying athletes with the potential to excel internationally under the guidance of the International Paralympic Committee.
By the second edition, the festival had expanded significantly, drawing participation from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The increased scale was matched by improvements in technical organisation, officiating standards, and athlete preparation. Bayelsa State successfully defended its title, while standout performances, particularly in para powerlifting, highlighted Nigeria’s continued dominance in strength-based adaptive sports.
More importantly, the second edition solidified the festival’s role as a feeder system for international competitions, including the Paralympic Games and continental championships. Athletes identified during the Games have since transitioned into national teams, reinforcing their value as a critical talent development pipeline.
The 2026 edition in Abuja is widely regarded as a consolidation phase, one aimed at institutionalising previous gains while advancing organisational efficiency, inclusivity and competitive standards. Organisers are placing strong emphasis on accurate classification, athlete welfare, and adherence to international benchmarks to ensure credibility and global comparability of results.
Organisers have said hosting the Games in Abuja is also a strategic decision. As Nigeria’s administrative and political hub, the city offers superior infrastructure, accessibility and visibility. These factors are essential for attracting sponsorship, enhancing media coverage and securing policy support, all of which are vital for the sustained growth of para sports.
In a society where persons with disabilities often encounter structural barriers, the festival presents a compelling counter-narrative, one that emphasises ability, excellence, and contribution. It creates a space where athletes are not defined by limitations but celebrated for their achievements, thereby challenging stereotypes and reshaping public perception.
Nigeria’s long-standing success in para sports, particularly in disciplines such as powerlifting, underscores the importance of sustaining this momentum. The festival plays a central role in this regard by providing a structured environment for talent identification, systematic training and exposure to competitive pressure.
As such, the Abuja 2026 edition is more than a national sporting event; it is a vital component of Nigeria’s international sporting ambitions. It strengthens the pipeline that feeds into global competitions governed by the International Paralympic Committee and ensures that the country remains competitive on the world stage.
Para-Soccer will be centre of attraction- Misbahu Lawan Didi
Meanwhile, the founder of para-soccer, Alhaji Misbahu Laan Didi, has expressed profound happiness that the sport has become an integral part of the Games.
Speaking to Weekend Trust Sports, the polio survivor who founded para-soccer in 1998 along with six other friends in Lagos, also thanked the National Sports Commission (NSC) for including the sport in the events for the 3rd National Para-sports Festival.
He commended the states that have agreed to send their players to come and participate in the competition.
“As the founder and former president of Para-soccer Federation, I am overwhelmed with joy that the NSC is taking inclusivity seriously.
“Competitions like this will support the spread of para-soccer in Nigeria and beyond. Already the game is played in at least six other African countries.
“My dream is for para-soccer to have an African championship just as the able-bodied players have the AFCON and WAFCON,” said Didi.
Furthermore, he noted that para-soccer is the only indigenous sport that will be featured at the Games, adding that it will be the centre of attraction.
Didi maintained that if the government and corporate organisations paid premium attention to para-soccer, the sport has the potential to become a Paralympic event.
“Para-soccer is not as expensive as other sports. While it costs almost nothing to acquire roller skates for the players, a sport like wheelchair tennis or basketball is quite expensive because of the high cost of the wheelchairs.
“We are trying to sustain para-soccer, but we need more support. It is unfortunate that after more than three decades, we do not have a permanent sponsor.
“So, we appreciate those who have been supportive, but we are still calling on others to join in promoting para-soccer. This sport is indigenous to us and must not be allowed to die,” he pleaded.