In this chat at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games In Australia, President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting (GOLDEN) Federation QUEEN UBOH spoke with JOSEPH ODOEKWU of Sport Intelligence (www.sportintelligencemag.com). She recently made cash donations to para-athletes for their wonderful performance at the games where they won, and calls for support for the athletes and reveals her developmental plan for the Federation.
Inspiration for supporting Para Sport
They may appear to be para physically but mine as their president is worse, because I am also Para but it is psychological and emotional. I lost my parent over 30 years ago, I run an orphanage home and I grew up in the home for abusive women in Canada, it has not been easy because I know what it is to be emotionally traumatized. So for me, I am working for them and I am not seeing myself as their president.
The first day they elected me I told them I am there to serve and I know my reward will be in heaven. So I always encourage them, that and since then, its a new dawn since I became Para President, so I will do more to make sure the light comes up in Para Sport. Another reason I am also encouraging them is so that the younger ones can come in when they see light at the end of the tunnel. Very soon these athletes are all going to be veterans so what happens next is a concern and that is why I need to put things in place so that the new ones can take over from where they stopped.
On her plans for the development of the game
First I had a meeting with the world president of the para power yesterday and we are thinking of hosting the world cup next year. As you know Nigeria has never hosted the world cup and as world champions, it is important we do so. After hosting the world cup we are going to come up with what is called Para Academy. We also thank God that we have also been included in the forthcoming National Sport Festival that is coming up in November and after that we start off with our academy that will encourage incoming para-power athletes.
Still on development, Coach Feyisetan is our world coach we appreciate him b ut he is getting older. We want something to encourage other coaches to continue from where he stopped and what are these things, putting things in place what we call bail-out package. Another thing I need to fight for is that 90% of our para athletes are all educated and have their certificates, so back in Nigeria we intend to meet with some state governors. We want to appeal to the states where they come from to have them employed because they are all educated. They deserve to be employed because they have made the country proud
Thank you very much madam for giving us audience
Thank you too for making out time to talk with us.
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