The Deputy President
of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has commended the outstanding performances recorded by  the Nigerian contingent to the Rio 2016 Paralympics in Brazil  describing them as true heroes, who gave their best to their fatherland.
Ekweremadu  in his congratulatory message to Team Nigeria noted that with 12 medals, including eight gold medals, and six World Record-breaking performance, the Team had not only put up the best performance ever  achieved by any Nigerian contingent to the Paralympics, but had shown that ability was in the mind
According to a statement from signed by his Special Assistant on Media , Uche Anichukwu , the Deputy Senate President  called on other Nigerian athletes and national teams to emulate the Nigerian spirit exhibited by the Paralympians.
His words  “I salute Team Nigeria for their patriotism and the sheer willpower exhibited. This will no doubt lift the spirit of the nation at this difficulty time. It is my hope that their compatriots who will fly the Nigerian flag at future competitions will imbibe their determination, for they have shown that ability is in the mind.
“It is also my hope that we learn the lesson as a nation to give everyone and every constituent part the opportunity to contribute to national development”.
EKweremadu enjoined  the federal government  to give  the team a heroic  reception and reward them accordingly.
While he emphasised the need for urgent steps to  revitalize the nations sports sector  Senator Ekweremadu stressed the need to revive school sports competition to groom and showcase potential stars.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi