Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has declared that Nigeria’s future in swimming has never looked brighter, following the record-breaking performance of 17-year-old Abduljabar Adama at the 16th Africa Junior Swimming Championships in Egypt.
Speaking in Abeokuta on Tuesday during the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, Hon. Olopade announced that Adama has been officially inducted into the NSC’s Elite Athletes and Podium Program, under the Commission’s Elite Board, describing the teenager’s feat as a watershed moment for Nigerian swimming.
“I sleep better now knowing the quality we have in swimming. Abduljabar’s performance in Egypt didn’t just win us medals—it won us belief,” Olopade said.
Adama secured three gold medals and a bronze, shattered the championship record in the 50m butterfly, and broke the African junior record in the 50m freestyle, as Nigeria clinched third overall, finishing only behind continental powerhouses South Africa and Egypt.
“For a long time, swimming was not considered one of Nigeria’s Olympic medal hopes. But today, I say with confidence—that mindset must change. With talents like Abduljabar and the structure we are building, swimming is no longer just a sport of participation for Nigeria. It is now a podium sport.”
Hon. Olopade emphasized that support for swimming will now become more deliberate, pledging more funding and exposure for the young athletes both at home and abroad.
“On behalf of our Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, I am assuring the Aquatic Federation that we will support all underage swimming competitions, locally and internationally. These young stars are the face of our future.”
He also praised the President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Chinonye Aliyu, and offered special recognition to the parents of the young swimmers, calling them “the unseen heroes behind our champions.”
To further motivate the team, the DG announced a ₦5 million cash reward for Abduljabar Adama, and ₦2 million each for other members of the contingent and coaching staff who represented Nigeria in Egypt.
“Abduljabar has now officially entered our Elite Program. He is no longer just a junior champion—he is a future Olympian. This is the vision of the IJA and the NSC: to build a clear path from grassroots to global glory.”
As the National Sports Festival continues, Hon. Olopade reaffirmed the Commission’s mission to identify, nurture, and elevate talents across every sport, urging the public and private sectors to join hands with the Federal Government to secure a brighter, medal-winning future for Nigerian sports.
