By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, NAqF, Hon. Lekan Fatodu, has been elected into the Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Board, marking another significant milestone for Nigerian aquatics.
The Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Board comprises 22 countries across West and Central Africa, and Fatodu’s election is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s voice in the administration and development of aquatic sports across the region.
Reacting to his election, Fatodu described the development as a call to greater responsibility and pledged to use the opportunity to advance the growth of swimming and other aquatic sports in Nigeria.
“This is a call to greater responsibility and an opportunity to contribute more to the development of aquatics across Africa, while also using the platform to advance the growth of swimming in Nigeria,” Fatodu said.
“We will continue to strengthen partnerships, improve development programmes and create more opportunities for our athletes to compete, develop and excel at the highest level.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Aquatics Federation has made a late inclusion of Commonwealth Games swimmers Clinton Opute and Collins Ebinga into the senior category of the ongoing Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Championship.
The addition of the two swimmers is expected to further strengthen Team Nigeria, which currently sits top of the medal table after an impressive Day Two performance.
Nigeria has so far won 10 gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals to lead the standings.
Among the standout performers, Aidan Dumuje claimed gold in the boys’ 100 metres freestyle and silver in the 50 metres butterfly, while India Brown won two gold medals in the women’s 200 metres butterfly and 200 metres freestyle.
Omolola Akinsanmi secured silver in the girls’ 100 metres freestyle, while Atinuke and Demi also won silver medals in the girls’ and boys’ 100 metres breaststroke events respectively.
Tofunmi Ibidapo added another silver medal in the 200 metres butterfly, while Tise won bronze in the girls’ 800 metres event.
Collins Ebinga, one of the latest additions to the senior category, also made an immediate impact by winning silver in the men’s 50 metres butterfly.
With more events still to be decided, Team Nigeria will be hoping to maintain its momentum and consolidate its position at the summit of the Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Championship medal table.
