BENIN CITY – ALL is now set for the Maiden Edition of South South zone Para-powerlifting Championship scheduled to commence on February 10, 2022 at the magneficient Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The epoch-making sporting event which is an open category is expected to feature 20 categories comprising of male and female Para-powerlifters representing Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

According to the organisers of the 3-day championship, Para-powerlifters and officials of the participating six states are expected to arrive Benin City on February 9, while the opening ceremony is slated for February 10, 2022.

Speaking with the OBSERVERSports yesterday in Benin City, the sponsor of the championship, Mr. Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama, said that he decided to sponsor the first edition of the championship in line with the state government vision to catching them young and reposition the state as number one in sports in Nigeria.

The former Chairman of the recently dissolved Edo State Para-powerlifting Association added that the championship is also aimed at exposing and creating platform for Para-powerlifters who will in turn bring international laurels to the state and country at large.

He said: While I was the Chairman of Edo State Para-powerlifting Association, the Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, called all the association chairmen to a meeting to tell us the position of the government with respect to sports.

“This happened immediately after the last National Sports Festival that was hosted by Edo State. He told us that the vision of Edo State government is to reposition Edo State as number one in sports in Nigeria. So, we were all charged and given mandate to do all we can to make sure that we take Edo Sports to greater heights.

“The association has been dissolved but we had this plan before that government circular. The purpose of this championship is to bring exposure, to create platforms because in Nigeria, we discovered that as sportsmen, they usually lack exposure. The more championship they partake in the better they become in the sport. That is one of it.

“Also the championship is to foster friendship among the South South states, that is why we are localizing this to the South South. This is an avenue to remove the youths from the streets so that they will become useful to themselves”, he maintained

He called on youths in the state to participate in the championship, maintaining that the championship would help to removing the youths from the streets.

On his part, the Local Organising Committee Chairman (LOC), Mr. Benjamin Ehineboh, said all arrangements have been put in place towards having a hitch-free competition, adding the sponsor have reserved free hotel accommodations for Para-powerlifters and officials of the participating states.

While commending Mr. Osawaru for his commitment towards developing sports, particularly Para-powerlifting in the state, the LOC Chairman, asserted that the sponsor has strong passion for the physically-challenged persons who are into Para-powerlifting.

The state Para-powerlifting Coach, Patience Aghimife Igbiti, said Para-powerlifting is a game that deals with the movement of the upper body and strength from the abdomen, adding that it entails discipline and determination.

“When you talk about para-power lifting state in Nigeria, Edo is number one followed by Delta.”, she said

The ex first Nigerian female Powerlifter said that the Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama’s championship is a stepping stone for para-power lifting in South-South State, positing that future stars will be discovered for the country.

“The sponsor of this South-South Zone Para- Powerlifting Champion is an Angel to para-power lifting in Edo state. This is my first time of meeting somebody that really has interest in the game.

The championship which has one Million Naira ( N1,000,000:00) as prize to be won by the participating states is expected to climax on Saturday, February 12, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.