After a sterling performance at the 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico, the President Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), Sulola Johnson (MON) would like the Federal Government to host the athletes.
The President NPPF in a telephone conversation with aclsports.com said the morale of the athletes need to be boosted after exhibiting great performances at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and the World Championships.
“I’ve been in constant touch with the lifters and the question they keep asking me is when the sports loving President Muhamadu Buhari will host them. They are concerned because most of their counterparts who won medals were hosted by their various governments”.
“Our records in Nigeria are unbeatable. We have been setting and breaking records since the year 2000. I’ll be the happiest person if these lifters who are dedicated to the sports are rewarded on earth and not when they are late”, he said.
Johnson called for more support from philanthropists and corporate bodies to empower physically challenged athletes.
He, however, tasked well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to assist the body financially and in the area of kits for training.
“Our performances in these global competitions have remained inspirational to those who really want to be useful to themselves, families and nation at large,” he added.
Nigeria won a total of nine medals consisting of four gold; Folashade Alice Oluwafemiayo (86kg), Paul Kehinde (65kg), Roland Ezuruike (54kg) and Lucy Ejike (61kg); three Silver, Omolayo Bose (+79kg), Olaitan Ibrahim (67kg) and Loveline Obiji (86kg) as well as two Bronze from Yakubu Adesokan (49kg) and Ndidi Nwosu (73kg).
