World Aquatics Awards Prestigious Scholarships to Two Nigerian Swimmers

By: Arinzechi Chukwunonso

World Aquatics, the global governing body for swimming, has awarded international training scholarships to two of Nigeria’s rising stars in the sport — Clinton Opute of Delta State and Collins Ebingha of Bayelsa State.

The scholarships, part of World Aquatics’ elite development program, are aimed at providing athletes access to world-class training facilities in Europe while preparing them for major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

According to program details, Collins Ebingha’s scholarship runs from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, while Clinton Opute’s training grant extends from September 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028, in Hungary and France respectively.

This milestone underscores the steady progress of swimming development in Nigeria, following a string of impressive performances on the national and international stage. It also aligns with the strategic sports development agenda of the National Sports Commission (NSC), driven by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, with the Nigeria Swimming Federation playing a key role in nurturing homegrown talent.

Notably, the World Aquatics scholarships are reserved for athletes above 18 years old who demonstrate exceptional promise and strong Olympic prospects. The selection of Opute and Ebingha is therefore viewed as both a recognition of their potential and a reflection of Nigeria’s rising profile in global swimming.

It will be recalled that the duo, alongside Abduljabar Adama of Ogun State, were standout performers at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where they confirmed Nigeria’s growing pool of elite swimmers.

Their recognition by World Aquatics not only boosts Nigeria’s Olympic preparations but also reaffirms the country’s renewed commitment to producing world-class athletes across sporting disciplines.