Sports boost skills, inclusion, and social interaction of PWDs- DSFN

The Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN) says sports boost the social interactions, skills, physical fitness and mental well-being of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The National Coordinator of the Foundation, Mrs Nike Denis, made this known at the 18th Edition Inter-house Sports of the DSFN in Lagos.
The inter-house sports featured many activities including march-past, egg race, sack race, balloon game, blind folding race, fill-in-the-bottle and fill-in-the-basket games.
Other activities featured in the inter-house sports included walking race, 50 and 100 metres race for boys and girls from some selected special schools across Lagos State.
The children were grouped into four different houses/teams comprising Ivory House in blue colour, NSIA House in yellow colour, Linkage House in red colour and Somolu House in green colour.
Denis explained that the Inter-House Sports was part of the activities by the Foundation to mark the 2025 World Down Syndrome Day celebrated annually on March 21.
She said that the inter-house sports was a means of portraying awareness and total inclusion of persons with disabilities in the society particularly those with down syndrome.
According to her, sports are therapeutic procedures for psychological and mental health development, saying that the programme serves as a means of giving people with disabilities a sense of belonging.
She, therefore, urged the public to shun all forms of discrimination/stigmatisation against PWDs and incorporate them into the society.
“The essence of the the inter-house sports activities is to boost their self esteem, social interaction, skills, physical fitness, psychological and mental well-being.
“The society needs to stop discriminating people with disabilities; they should be given that sense of belonging because we are all human,” she said.
Mrs Rose Mordi, President, DSFN, called on the government at all levels to intensify efforts to put in place the right structures needed to ensure inclusivity of persons with down syndrome in the workforce.
Mordi decried that persons with intellectual disability (down syndrome) had been excluded from the workforce for long, because the right structures to aid their employment have not been provided.
According to her, some persons with down syndrome have been groomed and properly trained, saying that they have the skills to fit into the workforce and contribute to national development.
“For over eight years ago, we have graduated some qualified individuals with down syndrome, who are supposed to be working in the labour force. But, up til today, they have not been offered employment.
“So, we have to reabsorb them into our Foundation, to at least keep them busy,” Mordi said.
Also, Mrs Sosina Omokorere, the PTA Chairman, DSFN, said that the programme was an indication that people with down syndrome could participate in various sports activities as well as all endeavours of life.
According to her, the inter-house sports has made massive impact in the lives of the children with down syndrome, saying that it has produced athletes who have participated in international Olympics.
“The children were grouped into four different houses/teams; which is way of encouraging team work spirit, unity and togetherness among them,” she said.
Omokorere urged that their rights should be protected like every other human being in the society.
“With their performance today, it shows that there is nothing they cannot do.
“People with down syndrome need to be integrated into every aspects of life particularly into the workforce to enable them contribute to economic development.
“Let no one be left behind, not even people with disabilities,” Omokorere said.
Also, Solomon Omere, a down syndrome person, expressed satisfaction and excitement over the inter-house sports activities.
Omere said the programme gave him the opportunity to exercise and display his talents, saying that he participated in march-past, walking race and many other activities featured in the programme.
According to him, he looks forward to seeing and participating in more activities of this kind in the future.
Linkage house in red colour emerged the overall winner of the game with seven gold medals, five silver medals and three bronze.