Friday 25 October 2024 was a day to be remembered in the lives of Nigerian athletes who represented the country at the 2024 Paralympic Games held in Paris, France as the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) organised a gala night to appreciate them as worthy ambassadors.
The gala night held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Ikeja, Lagos, also witnessed the award of Patronage to sports-loving Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, and other notable Nigerians who have identified with the course of the Paralympic Movement in the country.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, described the athletes as gifted Nigerians who used their talents to make the entire nation proud in Paris.
“These athletes have shown us that there is an ability in disability. This night is a historical event to celebrate the outstanding of our paralympic athletes and the PCN Board for doing a great job.
“I appreciate the performance of our athletes at the Paris Paralympics to bring glory to our nation.
They have demonstrated that no challenges are surmountable.
“For more than two decades our para-athletes have demonstrated excellence with their gift to do the nation proud,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Speaking on the PCN’s award of patronage to him, the governor noted that “I am happy to be decorated as a Patron. There is no doubt that para-sports have elevated Nigeria’s global profile.
“I pledge as a Patron to always advocate for greater investment in sports. I want to commend the Board of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria for its unwavering dedication to taking the game to the next level,” the governor said.
To the President of PCN, Mr Sunday Odebode, “This gala night is organized to celebrate all Nigeria’s 2024 Paris Paralympics medalists. They have done us proud.”
The PCN boss the board is leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the athletes perform better in the future, adding that “to tackle current challenges, our executive board is excited to unveil the next phase of our vision; the N2.7 billion Paralympic Village Multipurpose Hall, a state of the art facility to support our athletes training and development,” Odebode said.
