Members of the Abia team to the London 2012 Paralympics and their officials have been rewarded by the Abia state government with a cash sum of N1 million each for winning 3 silver medals during the competition. Three members of the Abia contingent-Ifeanyi Nnajiofor, Sampson Ulonna and Ikechukwu Obichukwu won silver medals each out of the 5 silver medals won by Nigeria in weight lifting in the London 2012 games.
Handing over the cheques to the team at the government house, Umuahia, the governor, Chief Theodore Orji while receiving the team and their officials thanked them for doing the country and Abia state proud during the games. Chief Orji said it was gratifying that the paralympians often jettisoned by people won laurels even when Nigeria did not get anything in the real sports during the Olympics.
The governor commended the paralympians for excelling in various competitions they have entered into for the state and described them as real assets to the state. Speaking at the ceremony, a representative of the paralympic board of Nigeria, Mr. Ojo Emma thanked the governor for producing athletes that have done the country proud despite the lean resources of the state.\He used the forum to confer on the governor the award of sports image maker 2012 for his contributions to sports development in Nigeria.
Earlier, the permanent secretary, Ministry of sports, Mr. Ogbonnaya Ekwenye said the performance of the Abia paralympians in the games is an indication that the state government’s huge investments in sports is yielding fruits and thanked the governor for his support to the sports ministry.
