In a landmark show of support for adaptive sports, leading sports-tech and entertainment company BetKing played a pivotal role in championing inclusivity at the just-concluded National Sports Festival, which held in Ogun State.
The company emerged as the sole sponsor of the para-athletics category, underwriting all para events and providing critical support for athletes living with disabilities. The gesture ensured that over 400 para-athletes from across Nigeria had the resources, visibility, and platform they needed to compete at the highest level.
Held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the festival brought together athletes from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. BetKing’s sponsorship covered equipment, travel logistics, medical classification, and athlete welfare for all participants in the para-sports division—a move widely applauded as a game-changer for inclusive sports in the country.
“Our sponsorship of para-sports at the National Sports Festival reflects our deeper responsibility to support the overlooked,” said Gossy Ukanwoke, Managing Director of KingMakers and CEO of BetKing. “We believe every athlete, regardless of ability, deserves a platform to compete, grow, and inspire. This is not charity—it’s a celebration of resilience, talent, and inclusion.”
The initiative builds on BetKing’s broader commitment to fostering an inclusive sporting culture. The company also sponsors the annual BetKing Wheelchair Basketball Competition, which brings together top-performing adaptive athletes from across Nigeria to compete and develop their skills.
Outside the arena, BetKing’s social impact efforts continue through its BetKing Cares initiative. Currently running outreach campaigns in Lagos, Abia, Bayelsa, and Ogun States, the program supports local communities through medical missions and food distribution drives—further underlining the brand’s focus on nationwide upliftment and empowerment.
“Our work in Abeokuta is part of a long-term vision to create equitable opportunities in sports,” Ukanwoke added. “We’re not just investing in sports—we’re investing in people, stories, and a new standard of representation. Nigeria’s para-athletes deserve every cheer they received, and many more beyond that.”
With its ongoing efforts, BetKing continues to set the pace in promoting equity, dignity, and excellence across Nigeria’s sporting landscape.