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| The Letter from NADEF. |
The National Disability Empowerment Forum (NADEF), an
umbrella organization for 25 million physically challenged Nigerians, has
backed the candidature of PDP Presidential flag bearer in the 2019 election,
Atiku Abubakar.
The endorsement was contained in NADEF’s letter of
appreciation sent to Atiku Abubakar today in Abuja to thank him for donating
N10 million to the nation’s Amputee Football Team which enabled the squad to
represent Nigeria at the ongoing Amputee World cup Championship in Mexico.
“25 million Nigerians living with disability are
solidly behind you come 2019’’, the forum said in the letter signed by its
President, Dr. Christopher Nwanoro.
“Your Excellency, we pray that the Almighty God
will reward you greatly for your heart of gold towards people living with
disabilities and humanity in general”, Nwanoro said.
Furthermore, the group said that Atiku’s donation
“salvaged the situation, making it possible for the team to participate in the
ongoing championship”.
Nwanoro, who himself is blind and is a beneficiary
of Atiku’s scholarship scheme that saw him through his postgraduate studies,
described the gesture as “another demonstration of Atiku’s love towards persons
living with disability”.
It will be recalled that on Oct. 22, 2018, a day
to the commencement of the championship, NADEF and Nigeria Amputee Football
Federation (NAFF) made a presentation to Atiku seeking his financial support to
enable the team travel to Mexico for the championship, a request which the
former Vice President obliged with the donation of N10 million.
NAFF through Fred Edoreh, its World Cup Project
Coordinator had complained that for three consecutive times the team had
through self-help attended Africa Amputee Football Nations Cup, qualified for
the global series but did not make the trips because of funding gaps.
Edoreh explained that if the team failed to show
up at the 2018 world cup, which would be the fourth time, the Nigerian side
would be suspended from participating in all international competitions, adding
that the team would be disillusioned if such situation was allowed to be their
fate.
“It will close the windows of opportunities which
the sport offers for the engagement of physically challenged persons in
Nigeria,” he said.
The project coordinator said that the team of 15
players and five officials needed a total of N27 million to defray the costs
for return tickets, camping, procurement of equipment, upkeep and other
logistics requirements and that N10 million had been raised from public appeal
for funding and donation from the Super Eagles.
NAFF said that although it had written letters to
relevant government agencies and corporate organizations seeking for their
financial support, no response was received.
Meanwhile, the squad won its first world cup match
against El-Salvador on Oct. 30, 2018 by a lone goal.
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