Chinyeaka Ohaa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, says the Federal Government will reward the patriotic spirit of the Paralympics athletes.
Ohaa, who made this known on Monday when he led top management staff of the ministry to receive the second batch of the 2016 Paralympics athletes from Rio, Brazil, at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, urged Nigerians to emulate their patriotism.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a reception was organised at the airport for the Team Nigeria to Paralympics Games, which won 12 medals in Rio.
He affirmed the federal government’s resolve to reward athletes who excelled in various sports at the Olympics and Paralympic Games in Rio.
Ohaa promised that the athletes would be handsomely rewarded for their efforts when President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country.
According to him, this is one of the most astonishing performances that have brought great honor to this country.
“It goes to prove that beyond strength, there is also ability in disability.
“You told us that you were going to make Nigerians proud and you fulfilled your promise.
“It was a wonderful outing because Nigeria are leading in Africa in Paralympic Games and we are 17th in world,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary commended the Presidency for creating enabling environment for the athletes through training and ensuring prompt payment of all camp allowances and other financial obligations.
“We are proud of you, and we did our best by making sure that during your training, we took care of you and paid all your training allowances.
“These great athletes brought honor to this country and that is why we are showcasing them today,” Ohaa said.
Lauretta Onye , a gold medalist and current world record throw in, said she was inspired to win gold for the country by her coach and her passion to bring honor to her fatherland.
“I am so excited . I am very happy and I give God the glory for what He has done. A lot of things inspired me but what inspired me the most was my training.
“I trained very hard to make it possible to get there. I was inspired by my coach to go there and conquer. I was inspired by my country to go there and win” Onye said.
The second batch comprised of para-athletics and para-table tennis.
The athletes jubilated as they danced to the music by the Nigeria Football and other sports supporters club. (NAN)
