London 2012 Paralympic Games: Team Nigeria Athletes tell Mr. President “What we want from you”

Team Nigeria‘s athletes at the London 2012 Paralympic Games have won a total of 6 gold medals. Their heroic efforts and courage has brought glory to Nigeria. Even when their Olympian counterparts didn’t win a single medal, the Paralympians have picked up a clutch of medals. As at Wednesday September 5th, 2012 Nigeria’s Paralympics team had already won 12 medals, including six golds. The athletes have trained hard and have competed favorably with athletes from across the world.

Yesterday, the athletes made a list of demands which they expect President Goodluck Jonathan to meet as they await compensation for their heroic efforts at the Games. At their camp in London, some members of the team told Vanguard their expectations from the President when they return back to Nigeria.

Grace Anozie

“I want the President to first of all give us a resounding reception when we get back home. And after that he should begin to address the issues hindering the development of Paralympics sports in Nigeria. We know what we go through during our training. Imagine our situation in Nigeria when as disabled people we have to struggle to get transportation back home, because we cannot get into the regular buses, we have to take taxis and we spend more money than our other colleagues.” - Grace Anozie, a gold medallist in the women’s powerlifting +82kg category.

Folashade Oluwafemiayo

“There are a lot of people like me who would want to go into sport but they don’t have money. The President must take interest in our sports. We need to go on coaching courses, we need to train our officials so that we don’t get cheated at international events just like was done to me.” - Folasade Oluwafemiayo, a silver medalist in the women’s powerlifting -75kg category.

Victoria Nneji

“When we were coming here they begged us to spare Nigeria the embarrassment of not winning a medal. They said we must deliver and now we have delivered, so they must give us the honour that befits our achievements.” - Victoria Nneji, a bronze medalist in the women’s powerlifting -67.5kg category.

Here’s a breakdown of our medal table

GOLD

Powerlifting (Men’s – 48kg) – Adesokan Yakubu

Yakubu Adesokan

Powerlifting (Women’s – 44kg) – Nwokorie Ivory

Ivory Nwokorie (middle)

Powerlifting (Women’s – 48kg) – Oyema Esther

Esther Oyema

Powerlifting (Women’s – 52kg) – Onaolapo Joy

Powerlifting (Women’s – 82.50kg) – Obiji Loveline

Loveline Obiji

Powerlifting (Women’s +82.50kg) – Anozie Grace

Grace Anozie

SILVER

Powerlifting (Men’s – 52 kg) – Obichukwu Ikechukwu

Powerlifting (Men’s – 56kg) – Ulonnam Anthony

Powerlifting (Men’s – 56kg) – Nnajiofor Ifeanyi

Powerlifting (Women’s – 56kg) – Ejike Lucy

Powerlifting (Women’s – 75kg) – Oluwafemiayo Folashade

Folashade Oluwafemiayo

BRONZE

Powerlifting (Women’s – 67.50kg) – Nneji Victoria

Victoria Nneji

Well done Team Nigeria!