HISTORY OF DEAF SPORTS IN NIGERIA
There is no formal record of any sporting competition of the deaf prior to 1980. However, oral report shows that deaf people mostly in schools engage in sporting activities especially football prior to 1983. Between 1983 and 1985, the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youths in conjunction with JAYCEE organized competition for persons with disability including the deaf. The government of Nigeria recognized the right of every individual to develop his/her sports talent to the fullest and henceforth bring about sports development in the country. With this opportunity, sports for persons with disabilities were sanctioned. The physical disabled (wheel chair), the hearing imipaired, the mentally challenged and the spinal cord injury. These persons with special needs sports were coordinated as a single sport- special sports with Special Sports Federation of Nigeria (SSFN) taking charge of its organization and administration. Thus, competitions were organized for special persons at th...