Body Lyrics Global Elite Club Unveils Nigeria’s First Autism & Wheelchair Taekwondo Initiative

Body Lyrics Global Elite Club has officially unveiled its Autism and Wheelchair Taekwondo initiative, aimed at promoting inclusive sports, physical fitness, and opportunities for people living with disabilities.

The initiative is part of the club’s activities as it celebrates Season 10 of its Possibility 9ja programme, which began in 2011 but was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings.

The club, which started in 2007 at Fela Field, Ipaja, Lagos, initially focused on Taekwondo before expanding its activities to include open-air aerobics for parents and other community members.

Between 2009 and 2010, the group moved its activities to the basketball court at Abesan Estate’s Youth Centre, formerly known as Pius Ikedia Field, where it continued to develop its sports and fitness programmes.

The latest initiative represents a further expansion of the club’s activities, with a focus on making martial arts and physical exercise accessible to people who may face barriers to participating in conventional sporting programmes.

According to Oluwadamilare Afolayan Drelee Agboola, pioneer Nigeria Para-taekwondo, and coordinator of the group explained that the introduction of Autism and Wheelchair Taekwondo is expected to create opportunities for people with autism and wheelchair users to participate in structured physical activities suited to their individual needs.

He said the initiative also seeks to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion in sports and encourage communities to recognise the abilities of people living with disabilities.

Speaking on the development, Mrs. Olubunmi Saheed (1st Dan Black Belt) a representative of Body Lyrics Global Elite Club said the unveiling marked an important milestone in the organisation’s evolution from a community Taekwondo club into a broader platform for fitness, talent development and social inclusion.

“This year, we are officially unveiling Autism and Wheelchair Taekwondo in Nigeria. Our vision is to create more opportunities for people with different abilities to participate in sports, build confidence and demonstrate what they can achieve,” she said.

Mrs. Saheed added that the initiative reflects the club’s commitment to expanding access to physical activities beyond conventional sporting communities.

Body Lyrics Global Elite Club began operations in 2007 at Fela Field in Ipaja, where its activities centred on Taekwondo training.

Its relocation to Abesan Estate’s Youth Centre around 2009–2010 provided an opportunity to broaden its reach. The club subsequently introduced open-air aerobics to parents, creating a community-based fitness platform that brought different age groups together.

The expansion helped establish the organisation as a community sports and wellness initiative rather than a club focused exclusively on martial arts.

Mr Basiru Toyosi Kelani the club Pro and Ceo Yoruba Place on IG, said the group’s development had been driven by the desire to encourage healthy living, discipline and participation in physical activities.

“We started with Taekwondo, but over time, we realised that fitness and wellbeing should be accessible to the wider community. Bringing parents into our open-air aerobics programme was one of the ways we expanded that vision,” the leader said.

According to the organisers, some members who participate in international sports activities had to comply with the restrictions, affecting the continuity of the programme.

The celebration of Season 10 therefore represents a renewed opportunity to bring participants together, reflect on the organisation’s journey and introduce new programmes designed to broaden participation.

Mrs Funmilayo Oshin , the Head of Welfare Body Lyrics Global Elite Club said Possibility 9ja Season 10 was an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges the group had faced while looking ahead to its next phase.

“The pandemic interrupted many activities, and we had to respect the rules on gatherings. Reaching Season 10 is an opportunity to reconnect, celebrate our journey and introduce initiatives that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of more people,” the leader said.

For participants with autism, structured activities may be beneficial when delivered by trained instructors using individualised approaches, predictable routines and appropriate sensory accommodations. Wheelchair Taekwondo and other adaptive martial arts programmes similarly require suitable equipment, safety measures and modifications based on participants’ mobility and needs

However, the success of the initiative will depend on instructor training, accessible facilities, safeguarding arrangements and collaboration with families, disability organisations and relevant sports authorities.

With the planned unveiling, Body Lyrics Global Elite Club is seeking to extend its community sports legacy into inclusive physical activity, using its Season 10 celebration to highlight the principle that sporting participation should be open to people of different abilities.