Ojez Rewards Adama with $300, Hails Team Nigeria Swimmers’ Historic Commonwealth Games Performance
Oru LeonardÂ
Sports philanthropist and South-East representative on the board of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Joseph Odobeatu, popularly known as Ojez, has rewarded teenage swimming sensation Abduljabar Adama with a cash gift of $300 in recognition of his historic performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The reward followed the directive of NAqF President, Hon. Lekan Fatodu, to recognise and encourage outstanding performances by Nigerian athletes.
Welcoming Team Nigeria’s swimmers home, Ojez praised the quartet of Abduljabar Adama, Clinton Opute, Collins Ebinga and Dorcas Oka for their impressive displays, describing their achievements as a major milestone for Nigerian aquatic sports.
Adama, 17, etched his name into the history books by becoming the first Nigerian swimmer to qualify for the final of an event at the Commonwealth Games. Competing in the men’s 50-metre butterfly, he advanced to the final before finishing fourth, narrowly missing out on a medal and earning widespread acclaim for his remarkable performance.
Presenting the cash reward, Ojez described Adama’s feat as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerians and a clear demonstration of the country’s growing potential in international swimming.
He also commended Clinton Opute, Collins Ebinga and Dorcas Oka for their resilience and commitment throughout the competition, saying the team’s overall performance reflects a promising future for swimming in Nigeria.
Ojez further praised the leadership of the National Sports Commission, led by Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, for providing the support that contributed to the athletes’ successful outing in Glasgow.
“The performances of our swimmers are proof that Nigeria has abundant talents capable of competing with the very best in the world. The support from the National Sports Commission has been invaluable, and we must continue to invest in our athletes,” Ojez said.
Reaffirming his commitment to grassroots sports development, Ojez pledged continued investment in talent identification and youth development programmes aimed at producing future swimming champions.
He added that Adama’s historic achievement should inspire stakeholders to strengthen swimming development structures and deepen investment in the sport to sustain Nigeria’s growing success on the global stage.
