Fatodu Emerges Nigeria Aquatics Federation President After Landslide By-Election Victory
Oru Leonard
Abuja, July 19, 2026 – Board members of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF) have reaffirmed Mr. Lekan Fatodu as the new President of the federation following a by-election held in Abuja.
Fatodu, who currently serves as the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, was elected with a commanding 10-to-1 victory in a poll supervised and endorsed by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
His emergence follows the death of the federation’s former president, Dr. Chamberlain Dunkwu, whose passing board members described as a significant loss to the aquatic sports community.
Speaking after the election, members of the federation’s board expressed confidence in Fatodu’s leadership ability, citing his extensive experience in sports administration and his capacity to reposition aquatic sports in Nigeria.
The by-election result automatically confirms Fatodu as President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation for a four-year term.
In his acceptance remarks, Fatodu thanked the leadership of the National Sports Commission and stakeholders within the swimming and aquatic sports community for the confidence reposed in him.
“I am very happy today that we are all making history together, both at the level of the swimming family and the country’s sports sector at large,” he said.
He also commended the leadership of the NSC, particularly Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade, for what he described as their efforts in raising standards across Nigerian sports.
According to him, the reforms and direction introduced by the commission have contributed significantly to the ongoing transformation of the sports sector.
Fatodu pledged to justify the confidence placed in him by the federation and stakeholders, promising to focus on building a sustainable and economically viable aquatics ecosystem in the country.
“This new assignment entrusted to me by the aquatic family is one I embrace with total commitment and dedication. I assure the aquatic family and the National Sports Commission that I will not disappoint in delivering on the mandate to build a sustainable and economically viable sport for the country,” he said.
The election marks a new chapter for the Nigeria Aquatics Federation as it seeks to strengthen athlete development, improve competition standards and expand participation in aquatic sports nationwide.
