The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) have made a call for the inclusion of Para Sports in the 2022 National Sports Festival in Delta on Sunday.
Mr Daniel Onwe, the president of ALDIN, in a statement in Lagos, challenged the National Sports Council over the purported exclusion.
The association said it was gravely concerned and appalled by the exclusion of para sports, considering same as inhuman and discriminatory
According to ALDIN, the omission is a clinical show of discrimination, contrary to the provision of Section 1 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.
It is undeniable that more than any other sports, para sports have made this country proud by the many successes and laurels they have won at international competitions.
Consequently, the world has with great awe, taken to the liking of Nigerian para sports athletes, especially in the game of power lifting, athletics, and tennis, which they very interestingly beat their counterparts across the globe
Since Rio and London Paralympics, para sports in Nigeria have become more attractive than other regular sports,” he said
Therefore, ALDIN condemns the unjustifiable and inexplicable act of exclusion of athletes with disabilities, at a time like this, when inclusion had become the global heart cry,” he said.
The association has therefore, demanded an immediate correction of the omission, by including para sports.
According to them, Nigeria belonged equally to every Nigerian, ALDIN insisted that no person or class of persons should be treated like second class citizen.
Sunday Dare, the Sports Minister said that few selected para sports events would feature on scoring basis at the National Sports Festival in Delta.