\n
\u200eFresh from the 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championship in Algeria, Nigeria\u2019s para-powerlifting team returned not just with luggage, but with 49 medals and a story of grit that had already begun to ripple across the country.<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eLeading the welcome was Kingsley Awodi, a philanthropist who has quietly backed Nigerian sports for years. Recall that he re-grassed the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja under Sunday Dare, restoring one of the country\u2019s key sporting venues for athletes and fans.<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eAwodi is also a major stakeholder in the sports industry. In the past, he single-handedly paid athletes\u2019 grants to ensure competitors could focus on training and competition without financial strain. His support has remained consistent and practical: in April, he hosted and sponsored the Kingsley Awodi Para-Powerlifting Championship in Abuja, providing the team with competitive exposure just weeks before their departure for Algeria. That same commitment was evident again at their homecoming.<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eAddressing the athletes, coaches, and officials gathered in the arrival hall, Awodi opened by framing their achievement within the larger narrative of Nigerian resilience and excellence on the continental stage:<\/p>\n
\u200e\u201cI am deeply honoured to welcome home our victorious Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Team from the 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championship in Algeria. You have once again shown the world the strength, resilience, discipline, and fighting spirit that Nigerians are known for.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eFor four days in Oran, Nigeria\u2019s lifters competed against Africa\u2019s best and returned with 32 gold, 12 silver, and 5 bronze medals. The result secured second place overall behind Egypt and reinforced Nigeria\u2019s standing as a powerhouse in para sports. Beyond the medal count, it was the composure and precision of their performances that drew widespread praise.<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eRecognizing the collective effort behind the success, Awodi acknowledged the pride and honor the team had brought to the nation:<\/p>\n
\u200e\u201cYour performances have brought pride, joy, and honour to our nation, and I celebrate every athlete, coach, and official who contributed to this remarkable success.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eHe then turned to the responsibility of sustaining such progress, commending the leadership of the National Sports Commission while emphasizing the need for broader private sector involvement:<\/p>\n
\u200e\u201cWhile I sincerely appreciate the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for their work in repositioning sports in Nigeria, government efforts alone cannot carry the weight. This is the moment for the private sector to step forward and actively support our athletes and sporting institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eTo match words with action ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Awodi announced immediate cash rewards for medal winners:<\/p>\n
\u200e\u201cEvery gold medalist will receive \u20a61.5 million, every silver medalist \u20a61 million, and every bronze medalist \u20a6500,000. This is not merely about financial rewards, but about recognizing sacrifice, hard work, and the courage to represent Nigeria with pride.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u200e<\/p>\n
\u200eAs the team posed for photos with medals around their necks, the message was clear. The performance in Oran was about more than weight on a bar, it was about raising the standard for Nigerian sports and showing what becomes possible when athletes are consistently backed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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