Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Thursday night rewarded three athletes from Imo State who won gold medals for Nigeria at the just concluded 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The three power-lifting gold medallists, Roland Ezurike, Nwosu Ndidi and Josephine Orji were presented to Governor Okorocha at the state house in Owerri by the state’s Commissioner for Public Safety, Youth and Sports, Rodney Ajaelu.

The sports loving governor, who was celebrating his 54th birthday on Thursday, then announced a cash gift of one million naira ($3,100, £2,400) and a brand new car each for the trio.

Their coaches were also given a car each.

In a bid to show appreciation for his kind gesture, the excited Paralyampians sang a Happy Birthday song for the Governor and promised to continue to set the pace.

In his address, Okorocha said that the best things that can happen to Nigeria will always come from Imo State, adding that the athletes did not only make the state proud but the entire nation.

Nigeria ended the Rio Paralympics with eight golds, two silvers and two bronze medals to finish 17th in the medal table, the top-ranked African country.

The triumphant Team Nigeria athletes are yet to be received by the Federal Government in Abuja.