Nigeria Aquatics Federation and NUGA Forge Partnership to Unearth Swimming Champions

Jos, Plateau State – The future of Nigerian swimming looks brighter as the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF)officially partners with the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) to establish a robust framework for identifying and nurturing elite young swimming talent.

The groundbreaking collaboration was confirmed by the President of the Federation, Mr. Dukwu Chamberlain, on Wednesday at the 27th edition of the Nigeria University Games held in Jos, where the swimming events were jointly organized by both bodies.

Overall medals Table for Swimming

A Strategic Move for Swimming Development

Mr. Chamberlain described the initiative as a strategic move to revitalize swimming across the country, commending NUGA for its unwavering commitment to advancing university sports.

“I want to first of all appreciate the president and leadership of NUGA for organising this 27th edition of the Nigerian University Games,” Mr. Chamberlain stated. “The swimming event here in Abuja is a collaborative effort between the Aquatics Federation and NUGA. You can see the number of gold medals recorded so far, it shows there is a great future for aquatic sports in Nigeria.”

The NAqF President highlighted that swimming is one of Nigeria’s highest medal-winning potential sports and called for increased investment in its development. He explained that the partnership forms a core part of the Federation’s long-term strategy to strengthen grassroots participation and build a sustainable pathway for young athletes to progress from university competitions to representing Nigeria on the global stage.

“In the committee of sports, aquatic swimming has the highest number of gold medals,” he added. “If the country concentrates on the development of swimming, we will not lack in medal haul at both continental and international meets.”

⚓ Nigeria Maritime University Excels

Amidst the promising results, the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, Delta State, emerged as a major success story, acquiring a significant number of medals on the current table.

The university's cadets were guided throughout the competition by the Ag. Director of Sports, Chief Coach Oringo Binapado. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Flora Tobolayefa Oluwafemi, and the Registrar, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, have both expressed immense pride in the athletes’ achievements.

NMU’s performance underscores the immediate impact of the NAqF-NUGA partnership, demonstrating the rich talent pool available within the nation's tertiary institutions. The university anticipates more medals as the competition continues.