… Celebrates Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Onyinyechi Mark for Winning Gold Medals
By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has congratulated Team Nigeria for their outstanding performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France.
In what has been an impressive campaign, Team Nigeria secured a total of seven medals so far, bringing pride to the nation on the global stage.
With the competition set to conclude on Sunday, the team has already won two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals, reaffirming Nigeria’s strength in para-sports.
Hon. Abba Isa expressed his admiration for the athletes, stating that these talented athletes have made Nigeria proud with their remarkable performance, adding that he eagerly await their return to the country, where they will be celebrated as true national heroes.
The Senior presidential aide further emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is proud and thrilled by their achievements, highlighting that their success has restored Nigeria’s sporting reputation following the country’s disappointing outing at the 2024 Olympic Games, where Nigerian athletes failed to secure a single medal.
“Their incredible performance has wiped away the disappointment of the Olympic Games. We now stand tall on the global stage, thanks to the determination and resilience of our para-athletes,” Hon. Abba Isa remarked.
The SSAP particularly celebrated the stars of the tournament which included Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who made history by breaking her own world record in the women’s over 86kg Para-Powerlifting category.
As the Team Nigeria captain, Oluwafemiayo clinched gold, lifting an extraordinary 167kg, becoming the first Para-athlete in history to achieve this feat. Her victory brought an emotional close to Nigeria’s participation at the Games.
China’s Deng Xuemei took silver with a 155kg lift, while Egypt’s Nadia Ali won bronze with 145kg. Oluwafemiayo’s gold added to Nigeria’s total medal tally, a result that solidified the team’s successful outing in Paris.
Earlier in the competition, Onyinyechi Markwon Nigeria’s first gold medal after outlifting her rivals in the Para-Powerlifting finals.
Hon. Abba Isa commended Mark’s resilience and determination, stating that she exemplifies the Nigerian spirit of overcoming challenges to achieve greatness.
Other notable medalists celebrated by the SSAP include Esther Nworgu, who secured a silver medal in the women’s 41kg Para-Powerlifting event, and Eniola Bolaji, who clinched a bronze medal in the women’s singles SL3 badminton event on September 2.
Nigeria’s track and field athletes also shone at the Games. On Saturday, Flora Ugwunwa took home a silver medal in the women’s javelin F54 final, while Isau Ogunkunle secured a bronze medal in the Para-Table Tennis category.
Bose Omolayo added another silver to Nigeria’s medal haul after a stellar performance in the 79kg Para-Powerlifting category.
Looking ahead, Hon. Abba Isa urged the athletes to maintain their current form and to aim for similar success in upcoming international championships.
“This is just the beginning. With your hard work and dedication, I believe you will continue to excel and bring more glory to Nigeria in future competitions,” he said.
The 2024 Paralympic Games will forever be remembered as a triumphant moment for Nigeria’s sports history, and the nation eagerly awaits the athletes’ homecoming, where they will be celebrated for their remarkable achievements.
