Nigeria now officially member of World Wheelchair Rugby Federation

The Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby Association has officially achieved full membership status with the World Wheelchair Rugby Federation, having met all necessary requirements set by the international organization.

This significant announcement was made in a letter dated December 4, 2024, and signed by Alison Bridge, the Head of Administration at WWR, addressed to the Nigerian association.

The letter indicated that provisional approval was granted on July 9, 2024, and final confirmation is expected during the upcoming General Assembly of the World Wheelchair Rugby Federation.

In a statement from Fred Edoreh, Secretary of the Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby, he highlighted that this approval comes after nearly two years of dedicated efforts led by Mr. Suleiman Isah, President of Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby and Secretary General of the Nigeria Paralympic Committee, along with the board members. Their hard work aimed to establish Wheelchair Rugby in Nigeria and fulfill the membership criteria of the international body, ultimately seeking to enhance opportunities for Para sports in the country.

“Finally and happily, Nigeria has been granted full membership of the World Wheelchair Rugby Federation. It has been a long journey, and we must commend the President of Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby, Suleiman Isah, for pursuing the process to realisation.

“As Secretary General of the Nigeria Paralympic Committee, his vision has been to expand opportunities for Para sports in Nigeria and elevate the visibility of Nigeria para athletes in international sports.

“As former President of the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation, he worked to take the Nigeria Amputee Football team to the Amputee Football World Cup in 2018 in Mexico, for the first time ever, after they team had missed attending three previous editions due to lack of funds and faced the threat of international sanctions.

“He followed up by taking the team to the Africa Amputee Football Nations Cup in Angola in 2019, at which the country finished second, and also to the Tanzania 2021 edition.

“Having repositioned Amputee Football, he has focused on Wheelchair Rugby, in the bid to provide as many international sports opportunities for persons living with disabilities in Nigeria, and it is welcoming that he has pursued the approval of full international membership of Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby to a logical conclusion. The sky is now the limit for as many para sports people in Nigeria.”