The Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF) has announced that preparations are in full swing for the 12th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Swimming Championship, scheduled to take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, from 15 to 19 July.
Chinoye Aliyu, President of the federation, made this known during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, adding that the tournament aims to identify talents to represent Nigeria internationally.
“This championship is a key component of our strategic plan to discover, nurture, and prepare elite athletes who will represent Nigeria at global competitions.
“Recently, Nigeria made history by breaking two African records in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events at the Africa Junior Swimming Championships earlier this month.
“In light of this success, we encourage swimmers under the age of 18 to register, as the CNS tournament features both junior and senior (elite) categories.
“We are also expecting a diverse group of participants, including swimmers from tertiary institutions, paramilitary organisations, states, and clubs.
“The federation’s technical committee and national scouts will be present to assess performances and select outstanding swimmers for advanced training,” Aliyu stated.
She further commended the Nigerian Navy and CNS Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla for their unwavering support and collaboration in developing young talents within the sport.
“I wish to particularly thank the Nigerian Navy for restoring swimming’s former glory in Nigeria.
“As I mentioned earlier, we broke two records in Egypt and went on to secure three gold and one bronze medal an unprecedented achievement in the nation’s swimming history.
“This success was also made possible through the support of the CNS, who seconded Lt.-Commander Labake Oriretan, a former champion and experienced coach, to guide the national team during the competition,” she added.
Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu, Chairman of the Nigerian Navy Swimming Association, described the partnership as highly beneficial, emphasising their continued commitment to supporting the sport.
“We view supporting NAqF as part of our corporate social responsibility to the nation.
“For nearly 14 years, the Nigerian Navy has been actively involved in this endeavour, constantly seeking ways to enhance our contributions.
“We aim to identify athletes capable of competing internationally and to promote open water swimming.
“The collaboration has been very successful, and we look forward to further opportunities to support and partner with the federation.
“The previous edition was well attended, and we anticipate even greater participation this year, providing an opportunity for our youth to showcase their talents,” Nwatu added.
Also present at the event were Rear Admiral Yusuf Idris, Director of Sports, Nigerian Navy; Taiwo Oriss, Secretary General of NAqF; Dauda Usman, Vice President of NAqF; among others.
