FAME Foundation has announced that the 2025 edition of the HerSTEM Inclusive Tournament will hold on December 3 as part of national events marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Executive Director of the foundation, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, said the tournament is designed to celebrate and empower Nigerian girls and women with disabilities while reinforcing the importance of building a society where people of all abilities can thrive.

She noted that this year’s global theme highlights the need for truly inclusive communities and stressed that Nigeria’s development depends on how effectively it carries everyone along.

Atoyebi lamented that many girls and women with disabilities still face systemic barriers to education, employment, sports participation and overall quality of life. She said sports remain a powerful tool for visibility, confidence-building and leadership.

“Nigeria is inherently diverse. At FAME Foundation, we recognise the power of sports to unite people. When individuals are shut out of sports, we deny them visibility, leadership, confidence, and the chance to show what they are capable of,” she said.

The 2025 HerSTEM Inclusive Tournament will take place at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, featuring competitions such as the 100m finals for visually impaired athletes, athletes with cerebral palsy and Deaf athletes; discus throw for amputees and polio survivors; and shot put for amputees and Lexul athletes.

Atoyebi urged the public to attend and cheer the athletes, and called on government agencies, the private sector, development partners and the media to invest more in parasports and accessible sports infrastructure.

She expressed solidarity with all participants, describing their resilience as a catalyst for wider societal change.

FAME Foundation also commended the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for partnering on the 2025 edition, praising the agency’s commitment to inclusive development and national progress.

Vanguard News