BY
DR. ADEBUKOLA SHEHU ADEBAYO
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, LAGOS CIVIL SOCIETY DISABILITY POLICY PARTNERSHIP (LCSDPP). A DFID-SAVI SUPPORTED POLICY ADVOCACY PROGRAMME IN LAGOS STATE
GENERAL SECRETARY, JONAPWD (LAGOS)
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR GENERAL, POLITITAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE CENTRE (PARC), LAGOS, NIGERIA
Being a paper presented at
One-Day Capacity-Building Workshop for Persons With Disabilities
ON
Unleashing the Potentials and Empowering People Living with Disabilities through Sports
AT
Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State.
Tuesday, 28th February, 2012.
PROTOCOL:
Introduction
The participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in sports in Nigeria has come of age. Spanning over three decades, athletes with disabilities have worn several laurels for Nigeria and their different localities (including states); even when their non-disabled counterparts fail to do so.
The attention of Governments at all levels on special sports is rapidly increasing. National and state Special Sports Committees are being established, while sports policies at all levels of government are being liberalized to effectively accommodate the needs of athletes with disabilities.
Nevertheless, observations reveal that the level of inclusion and empowerment of sport men and women with disabilities remain at a significantly low levels when compared with those of their non-disabled counterparts. Not only is the participation of athletes with disabilities in sports largely confined to just being athletes, they are not generally empowered to effectively access and participate in other lucrative sub-sectors of the sports industry.
Although the reason for this is largely hinged on the prevailing trend of social exclusion of PWDs in our society, this negative trend is indeed reversible if athletes with disabilities themselves rise up to their responsibilities to repackage and re-brand themselves into sell-able sports icons just as their non-disabled sports counterparts.
The essence of this paper is to succinctly enlighten and equip our sportsmen and women with disabilities with basic ideas on how to explore and exploit other lucrative opportunities within the sports industry. The Paper takes a narrative analysis of the above situation of how sports can be used as a tool for the inclusion and empowerment of PWDs in Lagos State. We present a background of the development of sports vis avis the participation of PWDs. We then attempt a discussion of issues around the inclusion and empowerment of PWDs through sports, as well as the challenges which each of these issues presents. We then embark on a prognosis of how identified challenges can be surmounted.
BACKGROUND
The purpose and function of sports in our contemporary world has gone beyond the intentions of the Spartan Greeks who developed sports as a tool for physical and mental development. The Spartan Greeks used sports as a means of training their military. They excluded women and PWDs who were mostly thrown into the cold mountains and left to die.
In the medieval periods, when the modern Olympics was established, the purpose and function of sports was significantly demilitarized. The inclusion of women and PWDs was encouraged, increased and sustained across the world. However, sports still largely served the purpose of human physical and mental development. At this period, sports was equally used as a means for social interaction and integration among people from different parts of the world.
The proffessionalisation and commercialization of sports which began in the 19th century heralded private sector involvement, investment and partnership with government in the administration and management of sports. This helped to create several sub-sectors within the sports sector including: sports soft ware and hard ware development and production, sports stadia and complex development and management, sports media, sports marketing, sports administration and management, sports education, sports medicine, career sportsmanship, career coaching/instructing, career referee/umpire, etc.
Accordingly, sports has become a very critical socio-economic sector; generating and attracting very huge human, material and financial resources valued at several billions of dollars. The liberalization of sports as both an economic activity and business; while still serving as a veritable tool for effective social interaction, integration and unity has not only opened up the sector for free and easy participation by stakeholders, it has encouraged tremendous human capital development and productivity which in turn has contributed immensely to the socio-economic growth and development of several countries including Nigeria.
SPORTS AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION OF PWDs
As noted earlier, sports primarily served the purpose of being a tool for social interaction and integration among people of diverse social backgrounds. It is expected that competing sports men and women will develop the spirit of “sportsmanship” in competing for laurels. It is also expected that they will, while competing, show respect and appreciation for each others’ race, language, cultures and traditions, bio-physical and social status respectively.
Similarly, free, easy and equal participation of all in sports irrespective of their bio-physical and social status is guaranteed through the libralization of sports rules, regulations, procedures, infrastructure/facilities and general atmosphere among others. These conditions are fundamental precursors for the guaranteeing of social inclusion of PWDs through sports.
The current global trend of increasing attention to, and inclusion of PWDs in sports HAS PAID OFF IN SEVERAL WAYS. In Nigeria, our sports history reveals increasing participation of PWDs in sports especially as athletes. Nigerian sports men and women with disabilities have in the last three decades justified their participation in sports by winning several laurels for the nation. Local sporting events in the country have also produced several talented athletes with disabilities.
Unfortunately, despite the popularity and social prestige which sports has brought into the disability community, athletes with disabilities, and indeed the entire disability community have not done much to manage and sustain this hard earned social prestige. No visible effort have been seen on the part of athletes with disabilities to strategically and purposefully promote their social image as many still align with degrading models and practices of PWDs such as systematic begging, poor self estimate, self pity, social withdrawal tendencies and other charity-based attitudes; all of which do not motivate the building of public confidence in individuals with disabilities.
This situation is worsened by the general negative discrimination and other forms of social exclusion suffered by PWDs in our society which have not reduced significantly. Not only do parents still hide their children with disabilities, most private sector employers still put up discriminatory attitudes towards PWDs. Generally, the public as a whole are largely more sympathetic, less socially tolerant, less empathetic and less genuinely supportive of PWDs.
EMPOWERING PWDs THROUGH SPORTS
In view of the positive socio-economic revelations about the contribution of sports to national growth and development, the question to ask is what share of these gain has accrued to sports men and women with disabilities?
Despite the vast development which sports has witnessed, the prevailing trend of social exclusion in our society has largely limited the participation of PWDs in sports to just being athletes. This is quite worrisome. In special sports today, very few athletes with disabilities, upon their retirement, have been able to pursue careers as sports trainers, instructors or coaching. We don’t find PWDs within the core of sports refereeing, administration and management, media, marketing among others.
Discriminatory policies in employment, lack of access to financial credit as well as very unfavourable business environment, poor educational background and lack of access to scholarship to pursue higher education, and the inability of athletes with disabilities themselves to develop creative abilities and make judicious use of little resources and opportunities have further limited their quest for socio-economic empowerment and motivation towards exploring other sub-sectors in the sports industry.
PROGNOSIS TO SOCIAL INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT OF PWDs THROUGH SPORTS
Fundamentally, the “axe” required to break the barriers to the inclusion and empowerment of PWDs through sports is in the hands of athletes with disabilities themselves. While not attempting to ignore the role of government especially in creating the enabling sporting environment, athletes with disabilities should begin to “take the bull by the horns” by taking advantage of “little” resources and opportunities which sports present to them.
We must appreciate the tremendous efforts of the Lagos State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who, on June 24th 2011, signed the Lagos State Special People’s Bill into Law. This Law, which has been rated among the five best in the world, and which has been regarded as “social insurance” for all Lagosians irrespective of their bio-physical and social status has, in its several sections, provisions which seek to effectively guarantee the total inclusion of PWDs into mainstream society.
While we can authoritatively say here that the Government is making frantic efforts towards implementing this rather expensive, but largely inevitable and essential “social good” despite its very tight budget, athletes with disabilities, and indeed, all PWDs should begin to take full advantage of the benefits which emanating policies shall offer.
As athletes with disabilities, you should bear in mind the objective realities that our society is yet to fully come to clear terms with the need to ensure the full integration of PWDs into the social system; tap into their potentials and make them productive for the benefit of society at large. As such, athletes with disabilities should begin an aggressive process of repackaging and re-branding themselves into sell-able sports icons just as their non-disabled counterparts.
PWDs should begin to avoid self degrading, defeatist, stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes. It is only when we raise our profiles and celebrate our achievements that the society will further appreciate and value us. The world has completely moved away from charitable approaches to disability. Everyone is now talking about social inclusion as proposed by the social and interactive models of disability. Here, we refer to PWDs as integral part of society with valuable and productive capacities; rather than persons who should be secluded, pitied, less bothered with work and given hands out. Accordingly, PWDs should themselves make frantic efforts towards improving public perception and attitudes towards them.
As athletes with disabilities, you should begin to take cognisance of such little personal details such as appearance, comportment, utterances, self discipline and control, social responsibility, community participation, etc; while eschewing all forms of social misconducts such as violence. As athletes, you should show serious concern for your diet in general to keep in good shape and form all through your active periods.
You must realize that, first and foremost, you need to succeed as an athlete. As such, you need to improve your skills and performance capacity to keep winning laurels. Your ability to keep winning laurels will serve as your key selling point to prospective sponsors and top corporate and business brands; after all, who says an athlete with disability can’t serve as models for corporate brands if well managed? This is why you as athletes with disabilities, just as your non-disabled counterparts should embrace such professional practices as engaging competent sports/athlete managers and promoters who will be able to open up opportunities for you.
Again, our engagement with the private sector must be strategic if we must secure their support. This is very pertinent because Government alone can’t support sporting activities especially special sports. In fact, my observation is that there is a huge gap in the level of private sector support for special sports. Accordingly, athletes with disabilities must come together and begin to fashion out specific and achievable strategies to attract private sector support. You need to repackage and re-brand special sports and make it attractive to investors. As I earlier said, this step begins with how you are able to manage your individual reputation.
To achieve the above, athletes with disabilities should embrace education at higher levels and should not sacrifice education for sports as both can complement each other. While Government is making efforts to make scholarships accessible to athletes with disabilities, PWDs in sports should ensure that such opportunities, when given are judiciously used. Your ability as athletes with disabilities to access and effectively participate in other lucrative sub-sectors of the sports industry such as coaching, instructing, training, marketing, media, administration and management, etc is heavily dependent on the degree and quality of higher education you are able to attain.
You can’t be an athlete all through your life time. As such, your plans for retirement or even unexpected disengagement (maybe due to injuries) should be proactive, objective and realistic. Young athletes with disabilities and even older ones alike shouldn't become the proverbial child who spend his first earnings on “bean cake.” Accordingly, PWDs in sports should learn to pull their resources together and seek to invest same in viable business ventures which may also include sports related businesses. You must realize that no one will patronize your business because you are a PWD. As such, you must, in putting up any business endeavour, comply with all statutory laws and regulations as well as all known business ethics and principles to succeed.
In seeking Government’s attention, you need to come together as one united body. You must learn and understand the way Government works and learn how to channel your requests to Government through appropriate procedures. You also need to appreciate the fact that constructive dialogue remains the best and most fruitful means of engaging Government.
Nevertheless, we must appreciate that the era of waiting on Government to do everything for us is over. Even as PWDs, we should begin to think outside the box and seek how to avail ourselves with the numerous opportunities both within and outside the state. There are vivid examples of PWDs who have recorded resounding successes without waiting on Government. We only need to take advantage of the enabling and equitable socio-economic environment being created by the Fashola administration. We ourselves should be thinking “inclusively” by not limiting ourselves to opportunities just within the disability community.
CONCLUSION
We reiterate here that opportunities of inclusion and empowerment through sports for Lagos State athletes with disabilities goes beyond being competitive athletes. Athletes with disabilities need to, and should begin to explore the lucrative vastness of the sports industry.
However, PWDs in sports should understand that continuous education and training, social image repackaging and re-branding, judicious resource management and reinvestment, constructive engagement with Government and the private sector, among several other strategic steps, are very fundamental actions they must immediately embark upon if they must benefit from the numerous opportunities which the sports industry has to offer.
Finally, Our gathering here today is a clear manifestation of the good intentions of Government, as exemplified by our Honourable Commissioner and the entire management of the Lagos State Ministry of Youths, Sports and Social Development, (Office of Sports) to genuinely work for the total inclusion and empowerment of athletes with disabilities through sports. Athletes with disabilities should reciprocate this gesture not only by winning more laurels for the state, but by becoming successful sports icons and brands and instruments of positive change in Lagos State through which the various social barriers against PWDs in general will be totally broken.
I thank you all for listening.
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