By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu, and Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Shrugging off their apparent disability, Enugu State Para-Games team emerged overall champions at the 2026 Abuja Para-Games, clinching the coveted trophy.
The competition held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The team delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with a total of 40 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze medals.
The impressive tally placed them ahead of Bayelsa State, which came second with 25 gold, 30 silver, and 34 bronze medals, while Edo State secured third position with 25 gold, 14 silver, and 12 bronze medals. Rivers State finished fourth, while Lagos State came a distant fifth.
The competition was officially declared closed by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who commended the National Sports Commission, officials, and athletes for a hitch-free event.
She noted that Para-Games athletes have consistently made Nigeria proud through their outstanding performances in international competitions, emphasizing that there is indeed “ability in disability.”
In the team events, the Enugu State men’s Para-wheelchair basketball team defeated their Jigawa counterparts 10–0 in the final, while the women’s team also dominated, thrashing Jigawa 6–0 to secure victory. Captain Yetunde Adefala, Teniola and Shade were too hot for their opponents.
In athletics, Enugu athletes dominated both track and field events, winning the majority of competitions.
The state also recorded strong performances in para-shooting and para-table tennis.
Speaking after the victory, Director of Coaching, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Dennis Ani, described the triumph as both momentous and strategic, noting that it serves as a prelude to what is expected from the state at the forthcoming 2026 Coal City Games.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for providing the necessary funding and approving the state’s participation.
He appreciated the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu, for his vibrancy and administrative sagacity, which,the Director revealed, contributed significantly to the team’s success.
One of the standout athletes, Miss Esther Edema, who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m events and a bronze medal in the long jump, expressed joy at her achievements during the championship.
Similarly, Coach of the State Para Athletics team, Mr. Chukwuemeka Okafor, thanked God, the sports officials, and the athletes for making the state proud.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Lobi Stars FC of Benue State, Terver Ikya has assured that he was doing everything possible to address the challenges of the club to enable it perform maximally.
Part of the challenges was the huge debts exceeding ₦200 million he inherited on assumption of leadership of the club.
Addressing sports journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi, Ikya disclosed that the club’s liabilities had continued to rise, but stated that efforts were being made to liquidate them and ensure the team returns to top flight status of Nigeria’s football league.
Ikya, who said he faced challenges in low morale, unresolved coaching disputes, and a bloated squad of 67 contracted players, criticised the previous administration for running the club “like a charity organisation,” insisting that Lobi Stars must be managed professionally.
According to the Chairman, “one notable financial burden involved a Coaster bus loan, with a court judgment ordering the club to pay ₦47 million.”
The Chairman lamented that the club was entangled in more than 16 arbitration matters, including one with former coach Daniel Amokachi, but noted that despite the hurdles, Lobi Stars put up a sterling performance finishing second last season, just narrowly missing promotion back to the Nigerian soccer premiership.
Reaffirming his determination to gain promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the Chairman said: “Our target this season is promotion. My first intervention was to return the team to Makurdi, after a costly displacement to Nasarawa that deprived the team of home support.
“I also streamlined the squad to 35 players, with five promoted from the youth team, and insisted that recruitment would be strictly merit-based.”
Ikya, who disclosed that the club was seeking major partners for kits and other needs, denied rumours of delayed staff emolument payments, attributing it to a transition to Novus Bank,but assured that salaries were being paid.
According to him, in spite of financial strain, the Nigeria National League (NNL) recognised Lobi Stars as one of the most disciplined teams, while Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia was honoured as the Best Supporting Club Sponsor.
Lobi Stars FC, under Ikya, has steadily been on the rise to reinvent its glory years when in 1999 it won the NPFL trophy, following this up with Nigeria Super Cup same year, and Nigeria FA Cup in 2003 as well as another Super Cup in 2018.
The club has represented Nigeria creditably in the prestigious CAF Champions League and other continental tourneys.
