Fatodu Hails Nigerian Swimmers’ Glasgow Performance, Seeks Greater Support for Grassroots Development
Oru Leonard
Abuja, August 1, 2026 – President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Lekan Fatodu, has praised Nigeria’s swimming team for its impressive performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, describing the athletes’ outing as a significant step forward for the country’s aquatics programme.
Welcoming the team home, Fatodu commended the swimmers for their resilience, discipline and commitment, saying they represented Nigeria with honour and demonstrated that the nation’s swimming standards are steadily improving on the global stage.
The federation president reserved special commendation for Abduljabar Adama, whose outstanding performance saw him qualify for the final of the men’s 50-metre butterfly event before finishing fifth against some of the Commonwealth’s top swimmers. Fatodu described the feat as one of Nigeria’s strongest performances in Commonwealth Games swimming history and a testament to the country’s growing potential in the sport.
He also lauded the contributions of Clinton Opute, Collins Ebinga, and Dorcas Oka, noting that they competed with courage, professionalism and determination while proudly flying Nigeria’s flag on the international stage.
According to Fatodu, Abduljabar’s performance should inspire a new generation of swimmers and reinforces the federation’s commitment to providing talented athletes with the support needed to excel at the highest level.
Looking ahead, the NAqF president expressed optimism about Nigeria’s participation in the Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship scheduled for August 26 to 28 in Senegal, where both junior and senior teams are expected to compete.
He appealed to the National Sports Commission> to sustain its support for the federation’s grassroots development programmes, saying such backing is essential to nurturing emerging talents and restoring Nigeria’s dominance in West African swimming.
Fatodu specifically acknowledged the leadership of Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade for their continued commitment to sports development, urging them to maintain support for initiatives aimed at strengthening aquatics across the country.
He also thanked the National Sports Commission for providing quality kits and logistical support to Team Nigeria during the Commonwealth Games, describing the assistance as instrumental in enabling the athletes to compete confidently on the international stage.
Fatodu 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.
