Abia State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Nkechi Ikpeazu has donated a Toyota Sienna van to para-badminton players and also promised to continue supporting the game.
Dr. Ikpeazu made the donation on Tuesday when the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), led by its president, Francis Orbih visited the Government House, Umuahia.
The First Lady promised to make the Dr. (Mrs.) Nkechi Ikpeazu National Para-Badminton Championship an annual event, while assuring that the second edition will hold in the first quarter of next year alongside a Zonal Under-17 Championship.
She also promised to support para-badminton players, who are on the verge of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Earlier, Orbih had revealed that BFN members were in Umuahia to express their gratitude for the First Lady’s immense contribution to the development of para-badminton in the country.
“We really appreciate your contribution to the development of para-badminton which has led to the growth of the game in the country. You have also shown a commitment to the game by sponsoring the Dr. Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu National Para-Badminton Championship in 2016, the National Para-Badminton Team’s trip to the 2018 Uganda International Para-Badminton Championship, and the 2018 African Para-Badminton Championship in Uganda.
“The First Lady’s support has greatly impacted on the team, making it ascend to the enviable position of the number one para-badminton playing nation in Africa, while your effort also led to the team’s qualification for the 2019 Para-Badminton Championship in Basel, Switzerland which unfortunately the team could not attend due to visa issues,” Orbih added.
Board members who accompanied Orbih on the visit were Mrs. Obiageli Solaja, representative of the Southeast zone, Mr. Gabriel Gbayan, representative of the North Central zone, Mallam Tunde Kazeem, Mr. Isaac Ogbole, Mr. Samuel Ekeoma, the National Coordinator of Para Badminton, and Mr. Chinedu Osuoha, the Secretary-General of the Federation.
