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Buhari congratulates Paralympians, urges Nigerians to emulate Rio heroes

By Terhemba Daka, Abuja
20 September 2016   |   4:51 am
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated Nigeria’s team to the just concluded Rio 2016 Paralympic Games for an  outstanding performance at the event where the country surpassed its previous records.
Nigeria Rio Para-lyimpic contingent Gold Medalist arrival at Nnamdi Azikiway International airport Abuja at the Weekend. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Nigeria Rio Para-lyimpic contingent Gold Medalist arrival at Nnamdi Azikiway International airport Abuja at the Weekend. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated Nigeria’s team to the just concluded Rio 2016 Paralympic Games for an  outstanding performance at the event where the country surpassed its previous records.

In a statement yesterday, the president joined all sports-loving Nigerians to commend the athletes for doing the country proud by winning 12 medals and setting new records, which according to him, made them the top-performing African team at the 2016 games.

According to the statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant  on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari extolled the resilient
spirit of the Nigerian Paralympic athletes, who he said were able to  excel in the face of adversity.

He specifically applauded the athletes for their tenacity, focus and determination, which, according to him, brought glory to the country.

The President also praised all the officials and trainers of the Paralympic athletes, who made sacrifices  and persevered to fly the country’s colours in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Team Nigeria left for the Paralympics without fanfare following the country’s dismal performance at the Olympics, which preceded the special sports events, but the athletes became heroes midway into the games when they started amassing medals.

The team got eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals to make it the top African team at the 2016 Paralympics.

Six Nigerian athletes broke World Records (WR) in their events, in some instances they did it twice or thrice while still competing to win Gold.
Powerlifting and athletics accounted for the WRs.

The team arrived in Nigeria on Sunday to the waiting embrace of a grateful country.

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