President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Hon. Lekan Fatodu, has praised Nigeria’s swimmers for their impressive performances at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, describing their outing as a major step forward for the country’s aquatics programme.
Fatodu gave special recognition to Abduljabar Adama, who reached the final of the men’s 50-metre butterfly event and finished fifth, one of Nigeria’s strongest performances in swimming at the Commonwealth Games.
He also commended Clinton Opute, Collins Ebinga and Dorcas Oka for their determination and professionalism while representing the country on the global stage.
Welcoming the athletes home, the NAqF president said their performances showed that Nigerian swimming is steadily closing the gap with the world’s best.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, I warmly welcome our athletes home after a memorable outing at the Commonwealth Games. You have represented Nigeria with honour, determination and dignity.
The entire nation is proud of your achievements,” Fatodu said.
He described Adama’s fifth-place finish as a landmark achievement that would inspire a new generation of swimmers across the country.
“Abduljabar’s outstanding performance in the men’s 50m butterfly final is a milestone for Nigerian swimming.
His courage, confidence and competitive spirit have inspired many young athletes, and we remain committed to providing the support needed for him and other talents to reach greater heights,” he added.
With attention now shifting to the Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship in Senegal from August 26 to 28, Fatodu called on the National Sports Commission to sustain its support for grassroots development as Nigeria prepares to compete with both junior and senior teams.
He said the federation remains focused on discovering and nurturing young talents with the aim of restoring Nigeria’s dominance in West African swimming.
Fatodu also expressed gratitude to the National Sports Commission, led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, for providing quality kits and logistical support that enabled Team Nigeria to compete confidently in Glasgow.
The federation president reaffirmed NAqF’s commitment to strengthening its grassroots programmes, improving high-performance structures and creating more opportunities for Nigerian swimmers to excel on the continental and global stage.
By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
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