The American Football Elite Development (AFEDEV) has announced plans to establish a structured development pathway for Para-athletes in Nigeria.
The initiative includes Wheelchair American Football, aimed at creating opportunities for para-athletes and promoting inclusion in the sport.
The organisation’s founder, Lawrence Ojaideh, disclosed this at a news conference on Saturday in Lagos.
Ojaideh said the exhibition game scheduled for Sept. 10, would serve as foundation for a broader adaptive sports framework.
According to him, the vision of the organisation is to ensure that athletes, regardless of physical capability, can develop skills, compete and pursue careers in American football.
Beyond wheelchair football, Ojaideh said the organisation was preparing to establish a structured tackle football league for able-bodied athletes.
He added that the proposed league would focus on the safety of the athlete, coaching education, talent identification and professional standards.
Ojaideh further explained that the league would provide a platform for elite talent and help prepare Nigerian athletes for international competition.
According to him, the AFEDEV’s development model will combine grassroots education, strategic partnerships and commercial opportunities.
He said coaching certification and official training would be prioritised to improve the technical quality of the sport.
The AFEDEV founder identified corporate sponsorship, international partnerships, broadcast opportunities, match-day engagements and merchandise development, as potential revenue sources.
Ojaideh said revenue generated through these activities would be reinvested in facilities, equipment and athlete development.
He then appealed to the media to publicise activities of the AFEDEV and highlight opportunities for athletes.
Ojaideh noted that the organisation’s objective was to build a competitive, inclusive and sustainable American football ecosystem in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Dr Oluwasanmi Oluyomi, a board member of the AFEDEV, said the Sept. 10 exhibition game, would launch the organisation’s plan for a structured Wheelchair American Football League.
He said the initiative would promote inclusion, ensuring athletic excellence, passion and competitive spirit were accessible to everyone.
According to him, Wheelchair American Football is a fast-paced sport requiring upper-body strength, tactical awareness and skilled chair manoeuvring.
Oluyomi said the AFEDEV was establishing specialised training, certified adaptive equipment and dedicated athlete care, to support players competing at the highest level.
He added that the league would break barriers, redefine adaptive sports in Africa and demonstrate that athleticism knows no limits.
On her part, Nina Agunwa, Director and board member of the AFEDEV, said the organisation’s long-term vision centred on establishing an academy to drive its talent pipeline.
She said the academy would identify promising young athletes early and provide them with coaching, tactical education and physical conditioning.
Agunwa said the programme would combine athletic training with educational support, preparing athletes for success, both on the field and in life.
She added that discipline, leadership and athletic fundamentals, would be developed from an early stage to sustain Nigeria’s American football talent pipeline.
Agunwa said the academy would also help build a competitive future for Nigerian American football, through youth development and academic integration.(NAN)
