Heavens smiled when Samuel Peters, Loveth Ekufu-Patra danced with para-athletes

It is not every day that a former world boxing heavyweight champion comes to dine with para-athletes. And when that former champion is Samuel Peters, who ruled the boxing heavyweight world in the early to mid-2000s, then something delirious must be happening.

And so it was on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the second Diamond Superstars Para-powerlifting and wheelchair tennis competition held at the National Stadium gym and tennis courts with close 20 Para athletes in attendance.

The event, powered by women’s World Kickboxing Champion, Loveth Ekufu-Patra and Peters, brought smiles to the faces of para-athletes, who have won more medals for the country than any other segment of Nigeria’s sports community.

According to Peters and Ekufu-Patra, the gathering was aimed at encouraging the country’s special athletes and giving them a sense of belonging, as well as showing them that their diaspora colleagues have not abandoned them.

Event coordinator, Coach Jude Iduh, commended Ekufu-Patra and Peters for always remembering their root and giving back to the society that made them. Some of the athletes at the event were multiple award-winning gold medalist, Bose Omolayo (reigning World and Paralympic champion, current Commonwealth and African champion, as well as reigning Nigerian champion), Fahodun Omotola, Maria, Chikaodi Anigbogu, Komo, Olaitan Ibrahim, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Ahmed Gbadamosi, Olaniyan Ahmed, Tolu Taiwo and Kure Thomas.