Fatodu hails Nigerian swimmers after Glasgow campaign, seeks support for grassroots dev’t.

By Amaechi Agbo

The President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Hon. Lekan Fatodu, has warmly welcomed Nigeria’s swimming team home following their participation at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, commending the athletes for their dedication, resilience and outstanding representation of the country on the international stage.
Fatodu reserved special praise for Abduljabar Adama, whose remarkable performances highlighted Nigeria’s campaign. The young swimmer reached the final of the men’s 50-metre butterfly event, where he secured a commendable fifth-place finish against some of the Commonwealth’s finest athletes. His achievement is one of the strongest performances by a Nigerian swimmer at the Games and further underlines the progress being made in the country’s aquatics programme.
The NAqF President also applauded the efforts of Clinton Opute, Collins Ebinga and Dorcas Oka, noting that the quartet competed with courage, discipline and professionalism while proudly flying the Nigerian flag on the international stage.
Welcoming the team back, Fatodu said: “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. Your performances have demonstrated that Nigerian swimming is steadily closing the gap with the world’s best, and the entire nation is proud of your achievements.”
Speaking further on Abduljabar Adama’s performance, Fatodu described the swimmer as a shining example of the immense potential within Nigerian aquatics.
“Abduljabar’s outstanding fifth-place finish in the men’s 50m butterfly final is a milestone for Nigerian swimming. His courage, confidence and competitive spirit have inspired a new generation of swimmers. We celebrate his achievement and remain committed to providing the support needed for him and other talented athletes to reach even greater heights.”
Looking ahead to the Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship scheduled to hold in Senegal from August 26 to 28, Fatodu called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to continue supporting the federation’s grassroots development programmes as Nigeria prepares to compete with its junior and senior teams.
“As we prepare to travel to Senegal for the Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship, we are committed to developing young talents and reclaiming the dominance that Nigerian swimming enjoyed in West Africa in the past two years. We call on the leadership of the National Sports Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade to continue supporting the federation in its efforts to strengthen grassroots development and build a sustainable future for aquatics in Nigeria.”
The federation president added that the championship presents another opportunity for Nigeria’s next generation of swimmers to showcase their abilities and further establish the country as a force in African aquatics.
Fatodu also expressed appreciation to the National Sports Commission for its continued support, particularly for providing quality kits and logistical backing for Team Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games.
“We sincerely appreciate the National Sports Commission for its unwavering support and for providing world-class kits and other resources that enabled our athletes to compete confidently on the international stage. Such support is vital as we continue to nurture talents and raise the profile of Nigerian aquatics globally.”
He reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to expanding grassroots programmes, strengthening high-performance structures and creating more opportunities for Nigerian swimmers to excel at continental and global competitions.