BY PELUMI ADELE
The President of the Nigeria Aquatic Federation (NAF), Chief Mrs. Chinoye Aliyu, has expressed her delight and satisfaction with the massive participation of states in the swimming event at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State. According to her, the high turnout is a testament to the federation’s hard work and the state governments’ commitment to promoting aquatic sports.
“I commend the outstanding performance of Team Lagos, which won 19 gold medals in aquatics,” Mrs. Aliyu said in an exclusive interview. “The Lagos State government deserves praise for utilizing its resources effectively to achieve this feat.”
Mrs. Aliyu praised the organizers of the event, describing it as seamless and hitch-free. She also commended the standard of the facilities, noting that the Olympic-sized swimming pool met international standards.
To maintain excellence in aquatic sports, Mrs. Aliyu revealed that the NAF has introduced a biennial coaching course, which all aquatic coaches are required to attend. She appealed to the government, corporate bodies, and individuals to support the upgrade of aquatic facilities in Nigeria to international levels.
“We need to step up and upgrade our swimming facilities to match global standards,” she emphasized. With the current momentum, Mrs. Aliyu expressed optimism about the future of aquatic sports in Nigeria.
