Director General of the National Sports commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade has revealed that highly rated Nigeria young swimming sensation AbdulJabar Adama has been enlisted into the Commission’s Elite Program, under the Elite Athletes and Podium board.
The Nigeria Aquatic Federation received the cheering news when the board presented the contingents that represented Nigeria at the 16th Africa Junior swimming Championships in Egypt to the Director General in Abeokuta on Tuesday, at the National Sports Festival.
Nigeria had a successful campaign in Egypt securing three gold medals and a bronze, all courtesy of 17 year old Abduljabal Adama.
Abduljabal broke the championship record in the 50m butterfly and the African record in the 50m freestyle. He also won the 100m freestyle.
Nigeria later finished third overall behind South Africa and Egypt.
The DG said swimming is becoming a very top Sports where Nigeria can boast of medals at major international events, with the qualities that abound with the current set of young athletes.
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“I sleep better now knowing the quality we have in swimming.I see light at the end of the tunnel for swimming. Swimming has never been categorised as an olympic sports that Nigeria can stand tall t
of winning medals from, but that is now changing”.
” With the crop of swimmers we have now and the intentionality of the Aquatic Federation, coupled with the kind of parents we have and the coaching crew, I am confident that in 2028 we will be at the podium in the Olympics”.
” My confidence is not just enough and this is why on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, I want to assure the Aquatic Federation that we are going to put more funding and support for swimming”.
” We are going to intentionally support not just the current pool of swimmers that went to Egypt but all the under age competitions both home and abroad”, he said.
The DG also commended the President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Chinonye Aliyu, and praised the parents of the young swimmers as National heroes.
” I want to thank the President of the Aquatics Federation of Nigeria and the secretary and more especially the parents of our young athletes and their sacrifices to get these guys doing what they do.The parents of our invited young athletes I believe are our National heroes”.
The DG also announced financial incentives for all the athletes that represented Nigeria in Egypt and the coaching crew. The DG announced 5 million naira for Abduljabar Adama while the remaining contingents get 2 million naira each.
