After Winning 6 Gold Medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Team Nigeria Athletes tell Mr. President “What we want from you”
Posted on Friday, September 7th, 2012 at 8:24 AMBy Adeola Adeyemo
Folasade Oluwafemiayo
Team Nigeria‘s athletes at the London 2012 Paralympic Games have won an unprecedented 6 gold medals making Nigerians very proud. 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 favourably 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, a gold medallist in the women’s powerlifting +82kg category.
“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.”
Folasade Oluwafemiayo, a silver medalist in the women’s powerlifting -75kg category.
“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.”
Victoria Nneji, a bronze medalist in the women’s powerlifting -67.5kg category.
“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.”
Team Nigeria has dominated in Powerlifting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
I think the athletes deserve more than what they have asked for. I especially desire that better conditions for transportation and welfare of people living with disabilities in Nigeria is enforced. They have brought glory to Nigeria and deserve to be honoured and rewarded accordingly.
Well done Team Nigeria!
Tags: Folasade Oluwafemiayo, Goodluck Jonathan, Grace Anozie, London 2012 Paralympic Games, Team Nigeria, Victoria Nneji
Their demands are not out of place. They bother on motivation and welfare. They have the full support of well meaning Nigerians.
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Seconded by me. My full supoort really. These guys hav done wat the seemingly capable couldn’t do. and thats very impressive.
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A resounding well done capable Team Nigeria. 6 Gold medals, wao! Thank you for making Nigeria proud at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Hoping your requests for change will be met. Salut’
I couldd not agree less.they need to provide facilities for the disabled in every state in nigeri ffrom offffices,tall buildings,churccches down to d roads.these faccilities shouldnt even be a compensation,it it part of the responsibilities of the government to its people.congrats team paralymppics.thanks for wiping away the shame our able bodied athletes pasted on our faces.indeed every disspointtment is a blessing.am really happy ffor these athletes individually.i guess deir winning awards is a source of encouragement in life to them.also thanks for the inventors of paralymoic games,its gives d disabled a sense of belongingm- think mrs goodluck jonathan should foccus on sports cos her oga has got alot on his mind.
awesome! they really said well…
these people are incredibly brave and commendable. Their demands for facilities are not out of place.
GoodLuck are you listening, instead of stealing invest in your counrty o! Well done Team Nigeria
They should be given more.
GOD WILL HERE OUR PRAYER FOR THE COUNTRY, WELL DONE TO U ALL. GOD BLESS NIGERIA
Wait a minute, all they said which is what they demand from GEJ, is it not what they are suppose to get and be given. If you are in your parents house, will you beg for garri and soup? or for water?. Anyway, maybe becos na Naija. I hope their wish be granted
Just checked the medal table and it indicated 12 medals, what happened the other 6 or…?
They have brought Glory to this country,they deserve more than they have requested which is not out of place.l Hope the government will move fast to meet their request(s) and invest in them.
Bravo!
Congratulations to TEAM NIGERIA……….if the disabled are making the country proud, wat went wrong the the abled bodied people?????? i jst hope GEJ grants them all their request.
Well done and hope the facilities are put in place as well. Disability is not inability.
Best article I v read today
Governmnet has failed to realize that Sports is most strategic and funamental avenue t employ army of unemployed youths. it is through sports that a poor boy in a far and forgotten corners of the world could rise out of poverty and become world’s legend, thus giving his life a meaning and affecting a community in which he comes from. Here sports is seen as a venture for low lives, a means to cough out funds for official embezzlement rather than away to change lives and put a country on the world’s map… Look at Jamaica, Brazil, Kenya, Ethiopia,etc. Congrats brave hearts, we are proud of you all.
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well don team naija, u deserve every pit of wat u r aksing for!
I am very proud of these athletes because they have delivered in spite of the odds, this is what determination looks like. And for the Nigerian govt, they ought build a sports complex for the physically challenged because if these set of athletes are able to deliver these many medals with non-existent facilities then you can only imagine what they would do with adequate facilities. Again, thank you so very much for making us proud… luv you guys
I support and I am in full agreement. More needs to be done for our disabled community and individuals with special needs. Its utterly disgusting to say the least that the average able bodied struggles to meet day to day challenges and multiply that by 100 for a disabled individual its even more disgusting. As for me I don’t believe in government in niajer any more. I now focus on myself and my ability to access how I can make a meaningful contribution to various initiatives and developments within Nigeria and other Africa countries. I would rather rally around encouraging other like minded people with ambition and foresight like myself with passion for humanity, development and its infrastructure. So help me God, like Habakkuk 2:2 I will write my vision down and keep believing. xxx
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Well done team. Your hardwork has paid off. I pray your investment will not be in vain.
They are obviously more patriotic and dedicated to come back home with excellent results
Hope they get the acknowledgement and sponsorships they deserve
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I MISS OBASANJO OO,GOODLUCK IS D WORST PRESIDO EVER! A MAN WHO DOESNT LISTEN TO THE MASSES, IMAGINE LIFING THE BAN ON DANA AIR LINE! GOD HELP US OOOO