Deaf athletes plan fresh protest in Lagos over Sports Festival exclusion

By Diden Abigail Owuntarose

Nigerian deaf athletes have announced plans to stage another peaceful protest in Lagos on Monday, October 26, over their exclusion from the 2026 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu.

The athletes, led by national deaf sports captain Badmus Nurudeen, announced the planned demonstration after waiting for hours at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, for Adeyinka Adeboye, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, on Friday.

Nurudeen expressed disappointment over the failure to hold a proposed meeting to address their concerns, insisting that the athletes would continue to demand the inclusion of deaf sports in the festival.

He said many athletes depended on sports to support themselves and their families, warning that excluding them from major competitions could undermine their livelihoods and opportunities for professional development.

The planned protest follows an earlier demonstration on October 19, when the athletes blocked the entrance to the National Stadium to draw attention to their grievances.

Adeboye had previously promised to engage the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, and the President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, over the matter.

However, the athletes say their concerns remain unresolved.

Assistant Technical Director of the Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation, Emmanuel Audu, said the exclusion marked another setback for deaf sports, adding that it was the fourth time the discipline had been omitted from the festival since the federation was established in 1996.

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The athletes have also questioned why para-sports events remain on the festival programme while deaf sports have been excluded.

They argue that the decision denies deaf athletes opportunities to compete, showcase their abilities and attract recognition from state sports authorities and national selectors.

However, the National Sports Commission has defended the exclusion, saying participation in the festival should be based on established competitive standards.

Michael Obasi, media aide to the NSC Director-General, said the commission was adopting a more competitive model that requires sports federations to demonstrate consistent activities and organise regular competitions before qualifying for major events.

He added that the policy was intended to improve the standard and commercial appeal of the National Sports Festival, rather than deliberately target any federation.

The disagreement comes ahead of the 2026 National Sports Festival, tagged the Coal City Games, scheduled to take place in Enugu from November 27 to December 11.

The deaf athletes are calling on the Federal Government and sports authorities to reconsider the decision and ensure that deaf sports receive fair consideration in the competition.

Their planned demonstration is expected to renew calls for greater inclusion and transparency in decisions affecting athletes with disabilities.