Nigeria in Paralympics Competitions and Achievements
Nigeria has so far participated in many sports competitions when it comes to Paralympics, starting from the first time they participated they have always featured in the 4 year sports competition which can be seen below;
- 1992 Summer Paralympics Game held from 4 to15 September in Barcelona, Spain.
- 1996 Summer Paralympics Game held from 16 to 25 August in Atlanta, USA.
- 2000 Summer Paralympics Game held from18 to 29 October in Sidney, Australia.
- 2004 Summer Paralympics Game held from 13 to 29 August in Athens, Greece.
- 2008 Summer Paralympics Game held from 6 to 17 September in Beijing, China.
- 2012 Summer Paralympics Game held from 29 to 9 September in London, United Kingdom.
- 2016 Summer Paralympics Game held from 7 to 18 September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nigeria Paralympics Achievements
These are the following achievement of Nigeria in Paralympics from 1992 till date;
- Two Nigeria Paralympics athletes won two gold medals for Nigeria in the 1992 Summer Paralympics Games held in Barcelona. Adeoye Ajbola featured in the Men’s Sprint while Monday Emoghawve featured in the Men’s powerlifting event.
- In the 1996 Summer Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA; Adeoye Ajibola won a gold medal in the Men’s sprint event while Monday Emoghawve won a gold medal in the Men’s powerlifting event.
- In the 2000 Summer Paralympics held in Sydney, Australia a total of nine athletes that represented Nigeria won a gold medal each in their various events they featured in. Edith Nzurike won a gold medal in Women’s javelin, Monday Emoghawve won a gold medal in Men’s powerlifting, Iyabo Ismaila, Victor Nneji and Patricia Okafor won a gold medal in Women’s powerlifting, Tajudeen Agunbiade won a gold medal in Table Tennis Men’s singles, Tunde Adisa, Femi Alaba and Tajudeen Agunbiade won a gold medal in Table Tennis Men’s team.
- Nigeria participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics held in Athens where they obtained three gold medals and were represented by Adekundo Adesoji featuring in Men’s sprint, Silver Ezeikpe featuring in Men’s javelin and Lucy Ejike featuring in Women’s powerlifting event.
- Nigeria won a total of four gold medals through their Paralympics players that represented them in the 2008 Summer Paralympics Game held in Beijing, China. Eucharia Njideka featured in Women’s shot put and Women’s discus event, Lucy Ejike featured in Women’s powerlifting event and Ruel Ishaku featuring in Men’s powerlifting event.
- Nigerian won four gold and two silver medals in the 2012 Summer Paralympics Games held in London, United Kingdom with Yakubu Adesokan featuring in the Men’s powerlifting (48 Kg), Ivory Nwokorie featuring in the Women’s powerlifting (44 Kg), Esther Oyema featuring in the Women’s powerlifting (48 Kg), Joy Onaolapo featuring in Women’s powerlifting (52 Kg), Ikechukwu Obichukwu featuring in Men's powerlifting (52 Kg), Anthony Ulonnam featuring in the Men’s powerlifting (56 Kg) class.
- Nigeria competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil winning a total of 12 medals comprising of 8 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 2 bronze medals through their 23 athletes composed of 14 powerlifters that represented them. The 2016 Summer Paralympics is the best ever since the history of Nigeria in Paralympics.
