Hundreds of Nigerians turned out at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja to welcome the first batch of Rio 2016 Paralympics athletes on Sunday.
The acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Luka Jonathan, received the athletes on behalf of the Sports Ministry.
Addressing the athletes, he thanked them for making the country proud by winning 12 medals in Rio Games which ended on Sunday.
The 12 medals won include; eight gold medals, two silver and two bronze medals setting six new World Records in the process.
“We are celebrating you now because you have done this country proud. History was made with your victorious outing to Rio.
“We appreciate your individual and collective efforts which have placed Nigeria on a very prominent position on the medals table.
“I am happy that Nigeria has led other African nations in this Games,’’ he said, adding that a more elaborate event would be held to celebrate the Paralympians.
The assistant captain of the Nigerian team, Esther Oyema, said that she and her teammates were very happy with the welcome they received.
