UPDATE: Nigeria’s record-setting Paralympics team returns to rousing welcome

The 12 athletes who made Nigeria proud at Rio Paralympics, setting new record September 18, 2016 2016 Paralympics Games: Team Nigeria arrives Rio September 5, 2016 Rio Olympics: Buhari orders immediate release of funds to Team Nigeria July 19, 2016 Rio 2016 Paralympics: Nigeria wins third gold September 11, 2016 Paralympics: Roland Ezuruike wins first gold for Nigeria September 9, 2016 Nigeria’s record-setting Paralympics athletes have returned to the country. The team, which won a record 8 gold medals at the Rio Paralympic games, arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Sunday evening to the scores of well wishers who sang and danced to welcome them. Officials from the Ministry of Sports were also at the airport to welcome the team. The National Anthem was sang for the victorious athletes. Speaking on behalf of the Sports Minister, an official of the Sports Ministry, Luca Jonathan Mangset, said Nigerians were proud of the athletes. Nigeria “is very proud of them for making the country proud,” he said while welcoming the athletes at the airport. Mr. Mangset said a more elaborate event will be held to celebrate the Paralympians. The assistant captain of the Nigerian team, Esther Oyema, said she and her teammates were very happy with the welcome they received. Esther, who won silver in the Powerlifting Women’s -55 kg category in Rio, said she and her colleagues were motivated to do better at the next competition. Apart from the eight gold medals, the team also won two silver and two bronze medals setting six new World Records in the process.