Lagos has made history as the host of Africa's first-ever Wheelchair Fencing Academy, attracting participants from over 10 countries for the 2026 ENABLE initiative. The three-day academy, running from August 5 to August 7, is a landmark step for inclusive sports on the continent.
Academy Opens with International Participation
The academy, organized by the Nigeria Fencing Federation in partnership with World Abilitysport and the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, is taking place at Rugby School Nigeria, Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos. Athletes, coaches, referees, and volunteers from Nigeria, Liberia, The Gambia, Rwanda, Togo, Botswana, Namibia, Brazil, the United States, and the United Kingdom are attending.
The programme is designed to provide comprehensive training ahead of the Commonwealth Wheelchair Fencing Championships. Participants will engage in practical sessions covering fencing techniques, coaching methods, athlete classification, competition rules, and officiating. A specialized referee education seminar is also part of the curriculum.
ENABLE Initiative: Empowering New Abilities
The academy is built around ENABLE, short for Empowering New Abilities, an inclusion initiative by REACH Africa. The goal is to create more opportunities for persons with disabilities through adaptive sports, education, leadership, and skills development. Organizers aim to help more people participate, compete, and excel in wheelchair fencing while fostering inclusion across Africa.
Tonye Sawari is coordinating the training, leading the ENABLE Initiative and preparations for Nigeria's para fencing team and Commonwealth nations. Ivan Schwantes, World Para Fencing Coaching Representative, is leading the technical sessions alongside other international experts.
Statements from Key Figures
Harry Cootes, Acting Chief Executive Officer of World Abilitysport, emphasized the importance of the academy: "A driving force behind our work is ensuring that fencing is accessible to as many people with disabilities as possible. The Wheelchair Fencing Academy, now in its fifth year, has created opportunities for athletes and coaches in emerging nations, and we are excited to bring that impact to Africa for the very first time."
REACH Africa Chairperson Rachael Samuel added: "ENABLE represents far more than a training programme. It is a commitment to ensuring that every young person, regardless of physical ability, has access to opportunity, dignity, and excellence through sport. By partnering with World Abilitysport, the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, and the Nigeria Fencing Federation, we are building a sustainable pathway that identifies talent, develops coaches, empowers communities, and creates future Paralympians."
Legacy and Future Championships
After the academy concludes, participants will compete in individual and team events in both foil and epee at the Commonwealth Championships. Organizers believe the academy will leave a lasting legacy by developing local coaches and officials, expanding wheelchair fencing across the continent, and demonstrating Africa's readiness to lead conversations around inclusive sports.
The launch of Africa's first Wheelchair Fencing Academy marks a significant milestone in the continent's sporting history, promising to inspire and empower a new generation of athletes with disabilities.
