President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Hon. Lekan Fatodu on Saturday, praised Nigeria’s swimming team for their impressive performances at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, describing their campaign as a significant step forward for the country’s aquatics programme.
Welcoming the athletes home, Fatodu commended their resilience, discipline and determination, saying they represented Nigeria with honour while competing against some of the Commonwealth’s best swimmers.
He reserved special praise for Abduljabar Adama, whose outstanding performance saw him reach the final of the men’s 50-metre butterfly, where he finished fifth—one of the best results ever recorded by a Nigerian swimmer at the Commonwealth Games.
Fatodu also hailed Clinton Opute, Collins Ebinga and Dorcas Oka for their courage and professionalism throughout the competition, noting that the quartet showcased the growing strength of Nigerian swimming on the international stage.
“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,” he said.
Highlighting Adama’s achievement, Fatodu described the swimmer as a symbol of the immense talent emerging from Nigeria’s aquatics programme.
“Abduljabar’s outstanding fifth-place finish in the men’s 50-metre 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,” he added.
Looking ahead to the Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship scheduled for August 26 to 28 in Senegal, the NAqF president appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to sustain its support for grassroots development as Nigeria prepares to field both junior and senior teams.
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He said the federation remains focused on discovering and nurturing young talents while working to restore Nigeria’s dominance in West African swimming.
“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,” Fatodu stated.
He noted that the regional championship would provide another platform for emerging swimmers to showcase their abilities and reinforce Nigeria’s growing reputation in African aquatics.
Fatodu also expressed appreciation to the National Sports Commission for its continued backing of Team Nigeria, particularly the provision of quality competition kits and logistical support during the Glasgow Games.
