Para Games: Dare, Dikko, Olopade to Lead Opening Ceremony

The stage is set for the official opening of the 3rd National Para Games as top dignitaries, including Presidential Spokesperson and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, will join the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to flag off the highly anticipated event.

The Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, alongside the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, will lead proceedings at the opening ceremony scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the iconic Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The 3rd National Para Games, holding from March 26th to April 3rd, 2026, is Nigeria’s flagship para-sport event, bringing together over 3,000 athletes from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Competitors will participate across 15 different sports, making it one of the largest gatherings of para-athletes in the nation’s history.

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The Games will feature a wide range of disciplines including para athletics, wheelchair basketball, para swimming, amputee football, sitting volleyball, para powerlifting, and wheelchair tennis, among others, demonstrating Nigeria’s growing commitment to inclusivity and the development of para sports nationwide.

Organized by the National Sports Commission, the event has continued to evolve as a critical platform for talent discovery, national unity, and preparation of athletes for international competitions such as the Paralympic Games, African championships, Commonwealth Games amongst others.

Beyond competition, the Games serve as a powerful symbol of resilience, showcasing the extraordinary abilities of athletes living with disabilities while promoting equal opportunity and social inclusion across the country.

The presence of high-profile dignitaries at the opening ceremony reflects the Federal Government’s strong commitment to advancing para sports and empowering athletes to achieve excellence on both national and global stages.

As anticipation builds, Nigeria once again turns its attention to Abuja, where courage, determination, and excellence will take center stage.