Kwara State special sports athletes on Tuesday in Ilorin urged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to pay the money being owed them for about two years.

The para athletes, while on a peaceful protest to the Kwara Government House in Ilorin, also said they needed to be employed.

They later stated during an interview that being employed would help to uplift them in the area of welfare and help them to bring more glory to the state.

Led by Felix Oyadinrin, who is one of them and Vice-Chairman (North-Central) of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the para-athletes carried placards with various inscriptions to express their feelings.

They said efforts to meet with the state governor had not been successful.

The para athletes asked for payment of their awards for both the 2022 National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State and the Para Games in Abuja in 2023.

“We are asking as well for a special monthly allocation for our welfare,” the athletes stated.

“We have helped to boost the standing of the state among the others at the sports level, and on numerous occasions we were given promises which were not fulfilled. Meanwhile, many of us have given nothing but exceptional services to the state in terms of sports and we have nothing to show for it in our lives and that of our family.

“On many occasions, we have organised seminars for people living with disabilities and this was done to encourage them. It is a shame that all these efforts are wasted because there is no support from the state government,” Mr Oyadinrin added.

The para athletes, however, commended the administration of Mr Abdulrazaq on sports development in the state.

(NAN)