Why Delta Speaker Supports Wheelchair Basketball

SAN FRANCISCO, February 22, (THEWILL) - Speaker of the Delta State Legislature, Rt. Hon (Engr) Victor Ochei FNSE, has revealed that his unwavering support for wheelchair basketball stems from his desire to bringing smiles and hope to the physically challenged in the society.

He made this statement at a recent media session with some sports journalists in his office at Asaba, heralding the second edition of the Rt. Hon (Engr) Victor Ochei International wheelchair basketball championship scheduled for the 18th through the 25th February 2013.

According to him, his love for this sector of the society informed his resolve to sponsor this tournament whereby, the finals of the competition coincides with his birthday.

He further revealed that the 2013 edition will feature neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Benin and Togo, which is an improvement on the maiden edition, which featured only Nigerian teams.

This, he said will act as a means of creating the expected awareness in the ECOWAS sub-region.

Hon Ochei also stated that he will bring his contacts to bear on ensuring adequate funding of the sport which in his words, “has the potential of increasing Nigeria’s medals haul at regional, continental and global multi-sporting meets.”

The legislator reiterated his aspiration of Nigeria making a debut in the wheelchair basketball event at the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

He therefore urged good spirited individuals and the corporate Nigeria to identify with this noble objective of lending credence to the dictum that “there is ability in disability.’’