ECOWAS Commission Makes History, Signs First Para Sports MoU with Nigeria Unconquered Foundation.
By Raymond Enoch
In a landmark stride toward regional inclusion and empowerment through sport, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC) has signed its first-ever Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused exclusively on para sports, partnering with the Nigeria Unconquered Foundation (NUF) to officially launch the ECOWAS Para Games (EPG).
The historic MoU was signed today at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Asokoro, Abuja, setting the stage for the inaugural ECOWAS Para Games, slated to take place in the first quarter of 2026.
This bold new initiative underscores ECOWAS’s growing commitment to the inclusion, empowerment, and recognition of persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the region.
Representatives from both ECOWAS and the Nigeria Unconquered Foundation hailed the partnership as a game-changing moment for West Africa’s sporting and social landscape. The agreement is the first of its kind in ECOWAS history, focusing exclusively on para-athletics and adaptive sports development across its 15 member states.
“This is more than a sporting event—it’s a movement,” said a senior ECOWAS official at the signing. “By launching the ECOWAS Para Games, we are giving athletes with disabilities the platform they have long deserved. It is a testament to the values of resilience, equity, and unity that our region stands for.”
The Nigeria Unconquered Foundation, renowned for its work in promoting adaptive sports and creating life-changing opportunities for athletes with disabilities, will bring its expertise and vision to co-develop and implement the games. The foundation’s collaboration with ECOWAS is seen as a natural synergy, combining regional reach with grassroots advocacy and operational excellence.
“This partnership is about redefining possibility,” said a representative from NUF. “Our athletes are not limited by disability; they are propelled by courage and determination. The ECOWAS Para Games will be a celebration of that spirit across the region.”
The ECOWAS Para Games are expected to include a wide range of sports adapted for athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments. Beyond competition, the event will promote advocacy, education, and regional dialogue on the rights of persons with disabilities, aligning with broader ECOWAS goals for human development and social cohesion.
With this MoU, ECOWAS signals a historic and progressive shift—placing para sports at the heart of its youth and sports development agenda, while positioning West Africa as a continental leader in inclusive sport policy.
As preparations begin for the inaugural games in 2026, the eyes of the region—and indeed, of the world—will be on ECOWAS and Nigeria Unconquered Foundation to deliver a powerful message: that disability is not a limitation, but a different kind of strength.
