BY LAJU ARENYEKA
Students of the Vocational Training Centre for the blind, Oshodi, are warming up for their 19th interhouse sports competition set to hold today at Yaba College of Technology.

At a Press briefing held recently to herald the occasion, the Chairman of the Nigerian Society for the Blind, Mrs. Abiola Agbaje spoke on the essence of sports to the visually impaired.: “In addition to our academic curriculum”,  she said, “we belive firmly that a healthy body stimulates a healthy mind. Physical sctivity stimulates development and social interaction by boosting confidence levels.

It enhances body awareness and greatly enhances self image through the emotional support of other athletes. Sports therefore becomes even more important to a blind or visually impaired person because it opens an avenue to do something more than the restricted mobility that loss of sight has caused. It keeps them active, develops their interest in physical wellbeing and encourages team spirit.”

Agbaje also commented on the feats of Nigeria’s para-olympians during the 2012, and called on the Government and other well meaning individuals to view the upcoming competition as an opportunity to harness the sporting prowess of the disabled.

She said: “The feats of our para-olympians at the London games has proved that Nigeria has a warehouse of talent in our disabled. It is time to tap and harness these assets, 2016 is around the corner! We need to highlight these gifted individuals.”

The competition, which will hold by 2 pm this Thursday at the Yaba College of Technology will highlight events such as march pasts, short put, 100 and 200 meter races among others, where visually impaired but talented students will compete against each other.