LAFIA – Alhaji Uthman Bala, Chairman of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Sports and Youths Development, has advocated for adequate funding for deaf sports in Nigeria.
The lawmaker spoke in Lafia on Tuesday while bidding farewell to the state contingent to the 2014 Deaf Sports National Festival.
He said that adequate funding for the sport would give the deaf Nigerians more sense of belonging.
He commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for including deaf sports in the country’s sports calendar, adding that it might prevent them from street begging.
The lawmaker said the festival was the only national competition where deaf athletes and others with disabilities could compete, display and interract with one another.
He commended Gov. Tanko Al-makura for identifying with people with disabilities, and thanked him for assisting the athletes with funds that would enable them to participate in Abuja.
Bala urged them to be good ambassadors of the state, while urging them to bring victory to the state at the end of the competition.
“ I am confident that with the caliber of people going for the competition and with the support you are getting from Al-makura, you will make us proud by bringing victory.”
The lawmaker, however, donated N50,000 to the athletes as part of his contribution, to assist them in solving some logistic problems.
Responding on behalf of other athletes, Chairman, Deaf Sports in the state, Ado Mohammed, promised that they would not disappoint the people of the state. (NAN)