ABUJA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Abuja announced the conferment of the Member of the Order of Niger (MON) on six 2012 Paralympic gold medalists.
The Nigerian leader disclosed this at a reception held for members of the Nigerian team to the 2012 London Paralympic Games and the national under-20 women football team.
The six athletes had won gold medals at the Games where Nigeria placed 22nd overall among 164 participating countries and regions, and finished third behind Tunisia and South Africa among African countries.
Nigeria, with a team of 29 athletes and 19 officials, won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games.
The six gold medalists, who are all power-lifters and will be decorated on Monday in Abuja, include Yakubu Adesokan, who set a new world record in the men's -48 kg.
The rest are Grace Anozie, Ivory Nwokorie, Loveline Obiji, Joy Onaolapo and Esther Oyema.
President Jonathan also announced a cash reward of five million Naira (33,000 U.S. dollars) for each gold medalist, while the five silver medalists were rewarded with three million Naira (19,354 dollars) each.
The two bronze medalists in the Paralympic team was also rewarded with two million Naira (12,903 U.S. dollars) each, while the team officials were each rewarded with 2.5 million naira (13,000 U.S. dollars).
Other members of the Paralympic team who did not win any medal at the Games, which was held from Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, were also rewarded with 500,000 Naira each (3225 U.S. dollars).
The president also announced a reward of one million Naira each for the women football team, also known as the Falconets, while their officials are to receive 1.2 million each.
The Falconets had finished fourth at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup finals held from Aug. 18 to Sept. 8 in Japan.
President Jonathan said no amount of money or award would be enough to reward the two groups of Nigerian sports figures, noting that the reception was a modest recognition of their achievements.
The Nigerian leader decried the dismal performance of the Nigerian athletes to the London Olympics held from July 27 to Aug. 12, and described it as a huge disappointment.
He said their performance underscored the urgent need to revamp the sporting sector in order to restore it to the glorious days of the past.
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