100 Swimmers To Participate In 1st Swim To Future Championship In Abuja

100 Swimmers To Participate In 1st Swim To Future Championship In Abuja

By Niyi Busari

The organiser of the 1st edition of Swim To Future Championship targeted not fewer than 100 participants, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The two-day grassroots swimming competition which is opened to children between the age of 6 to 12 starts on Friday 28th February and ends Saturday, 1st March, 2025. 

Speaking at the press briefing in Abuja, the President Aquatic Federation of Nigeria, Mrs Chinoye Daphey Aliyu, confirmed that only 78 swimmers have registered but the portal for entry is still opened while expecting the number to rise to 100 before it closes.

 She said, "At the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, we recognize the boundless potential of our young swimmers. We recognize that with the right training, mentorship, and opportunities, they can rise to compete at the highest levels, representing Nigeria with pride on international stages. 

"This is why we have initiated this program – to identify, train, and develop 100 talented swimmers in 2025 within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This pilot program serves as a stepping stone for a broader nationwide initiative, ensuring that every child with a passion for swimming gets the chance to excel.

"Through the unwavering support of the National Sports Commission and our partners, the dedication of our zonal representatives, we are determined to take this initiative beyond the FCT. Our vision is clear: this pilot program will expand to other zones across the country, ensuring that every region has access to professional training and competitive opportunities in the sport of swimming.

"Following the success of this pilot, we will roll out the next phase of our grassroots development project: the 'SWIM FOR LIFE' Championship. This inter-school competition will be spread across all zones, fostering healthy rivalry and sportsmanship among young swimmers. Winners from each zone will have the honor of competing in the grand finale at an agreed host city, where the best of the best will be celebrated and trained for podium success both at the Africa and World stage.

"Our vision is to discover and nurture young talents like, Demilade Akanbi, Aidan Dumuje-Abili, who made headlines at the National Youth Games in 2023 by winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 50m butterfly events, as well as a silver medal in the 200m Medley relay. His remarkable time of 1:03.73 in the 100m butterfly remains the fastest ever recorded for a 11-year-old in Nigeria in the under-12 category. Our commitment remains to create an enabling environment through this initiative, where we are not only building champions; but instilling in our children the values of discipline, resilience, and excellence that will serve them throughout their lives.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, stakeholders, coaches, and parents who believe in this vision and are partnering with us to make it a reality and to the National Sports Commission." She concluded

The competition starts from 2:00pm on Friday and 8am Saturday morning.

The sponsor, Ojay International Limited expressed satisfaction in identifying with the federation.