10th September, 2012
Reports say Team Nigeria’s athletes to the just concluded London 2012 Paralympic Games would be hosted to a lavish reception at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Nigerian special athletes won a total of 13 medals; six gold, five silver and two bronze medals, a performance far better than that of the able-bodied athletes, who failed to win a single medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
It was gathered that the National Sports Commission, NSC has decided to reward all the medalists with cash rewards based on the medals won.
According to Team Nigeria’s Chef De Mission to London 2012 Paralympics, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, the National Sports Commission, NSC has directed that each gold medalist gets a cash reward of 7,500 dollars, while silver medalist gets 5,000 dollars and the bronze medalists also collect 2,500 dollars.
The gold medalists at the reception included Esther Onyema, Ivory Nwokorie, Loveline Obiji, Grace Anozie, Joy Onaolapo and Yakubu Adesokan. The silver medalists were Ifeanyi Nnajiofor, Lucy Ejike, Anthony Ulonna, Obichukwu Ikechukwu and Folashade Oluwafemi Ayo.
In a related development, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Tafida (CFR), hosted Nigeria’s Paralympic team to a civic reception, at the Abuja House, 2-3 Campden Hill, W8 7 AD, London. Tafida commended the team for their performance.
Dr Tafida later presented a gift to Team Nigeria in appreciation of their heroic performance at London 2012 Paralympics.
According to him “This reception is a testimony to the importance we attached to the Paralympians in promoting the image of Nigeria, and I am also delighted that we won 12 medals at the Games and more importantly, our athletes against all odds also set new world records,
“Yakubu Adesokan even lifted almost four times his own weight, it was highly commendable,” Tafida said.
Team Nigeria finished on the 22nd position in the world, and placed third in Africa’s medals chart. Tunisia was the first African team with nine gold, five silver and five bronze medals. Followed by South Africa.