Special Olympics Nigeria (SO Nigeria) kicked off the 2024 ESPN Unified Sports Program with a three-day coach training session at the School for Persons with Special Needs in Osogbo, Osun State.
Held from June 5th to June 7th, 2024, the event saw the participation of 52 new and existing volunteer coaches, teachers, and youths from the communities of Ife, Ilesa, and Osogbo.
During the training, Olorunda, the Head of Service from the School Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Osun State, visited and reaffirmed SUBEB’s commitment to involving people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in sports activities. He highlighted the importance of providing more access to sports facilities where individuals with and without ID can play together without segregation.
Over the past 20 years, the Unified Sports program has grown to encompass 18 states across four political zones in Nigeria, engaging over 12,000 participants.
The program has empowered 8,080 athletes, 6,051 partners, and 2,027 coaches.
Currently, SO Nigeria includes 80 athletes and 51 partners participating in twice-weekly football and basketball training sessions in Ife, Ilesa, and Osogbo through the ESPN Unified Sports Program.
Special Olympics Nigeria is dedicated to promoting the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities through the Unified Sports Program. This initiative provides sports training and competition opportunities where individuals with and without intellectual disabilities play as a team.
