History of Swimming in Nigeria

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History of swimming in Nigeria

Traditional swimming as a kind of exercise and fun has existed in most part of the country mainly in the river line areas. The competitive aspect of swimming came into existence during the nineteenth century and was later introduced in Nigeria as one of the most popular Olympic sports.

History has that in 1938, competitive swimming event was held in Nigeria as the very first known swimming competition at King George V swimming pool built by Dr J Randle in Lagos Island.

The sport of swimming was then developed and organized by some late famous Nigerian which among them was late Kofi Duncan, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe late Dr Omololu & the late Dr M.O.Alakija, late Dr J.K. Randle.

The first national swimming association known as the Amateur Swimming Association of Nigeria was formed in 1958 by the National Sports Council when Nigeria was still a British Colony; the founding chairman then was Mr E.J Moses.

Amateur Swimming Association of Nigeria later changed its name to Nigeria Swimming Federation in 1997. For a second time in 2013, it was changed again to Nigeria Aquatic Federation (NAqF) in order to reflect the nation’s decision in other forms of aquatic authorities.

Two swimmers; late Messrs Job Ofongo and Horace Kantu were sent to represent Nigeria at the British Commonwealth & Empire Games in Cardiff, Wales, in 1958.

A professional swimming coach named Mr A. B. R. Watts was brought to Nigeria in 1963 in line with the agreement between the British Council and Nigeria Sports Council to help set the sport of swimming to standard in Nigeria.

King George V pool, Onikan and the Police Barracks pool Obalende was the formal training centre used by coach Watts to train old Nigeria swimmers then. This foreign coach in his pursuit to develop swimming in Nigeria later produced many professional swimmers who represented Nigeria at international swimming competitions and other artistic swimming.

Some of these old notable swimmers include Joseph Afekafe, Stephen Onyeacholam, Modupe Enigbokan, Funke Adebawo, Funke Zedomi and Tunde Fatayi -Williams.

Nigeria swimmers had won 35 medals (10 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals) at African Swimming Confederation (CANA) Zone Two swimming championship, held in Senegal in the year 2016. They were placed second after the host country, Senegal. During the course of the competition, every swimmer that participated in the contest was able to win at least a medal.

7 swimmers represented Nigeria in the championship and they included Yellow Yeiyah, Ebarakumo Dino, Foresight Osamezu for the males; Deborah Okpochini, Timipame-ere Akiayefa, Evelyn Nmor, Chinelo Iyadi for the females.

On this note, the president of the swimming and life-saving federation of Senegal who is also the vice president of Confederation of African Swimming, Dr.Mohammed Diop heaped praise on Nigerian swimming team to have won over other countries trained at international levels.

Also in 2017, Nigeria won the total of 87 medals (26 gold, 35 Silver and 26 Bronze ) at the 2nd Africa Zone 2 Junior swimming Championship which was held on October 27 to 29 in Lagos Nigeria at the National Stadium Swimming Pool which was newly refurbished.

Nigeria came first with 87 medals, Ghana came 2nd with 27 medals (12 gold, 9 silver and 6 bronze) then Senegal came 3rd with 17 medals (8 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze).

The pools that made Nigerian swimming

Nigeria’s first public pool, opened in 1928 on Lagos Island in memory of Dr John K. Randle, one of West Africa’s first doctors, became the cradle of competitive swimming; the site is now the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History. In 1973 the National Stadium, Surulere gave swimmers an Olympic-size pool, and since 2003 the federation has been based at the National Stadium swimming complex in Abuja. Coaches such as Steve Onyeacholam, himself a former national swimmer, say the lack of pools is still the biggest barrier for talented young Nigerians.