Nigeria’s push to establish itself as a force in international swimming has received a major boost, with two of the country’s promising athletes, Clinton Opute and Collins Ebingha, awarded training scholarships by World Aquatics.
The global swimming body confirmed that Opute, from Delta State, and Ebingha, from Bayelsa State, were selected under its elite development programme, which provides access to top-tier training centres in Europe and is designed to prepare athletes for world championships and the Olympic Games.
According to the programme details, Ebingha’s scholarship will run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, while Opute will train under the scheme from September 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028. Ebingha is billed to train in Hungary, while Opute will be based in France.
“This scholarship is an important pathway for our swimmers to gain international exposure and the kind of structured training that positions them for global success,” the Nigeria Swimming Federation said in a statement. “We are proud of Opute and Ebingha and confident they will justify the confidence reposed in them.”
The development follows Nigeria’s steady rise in competitive swimming, highlighted by the country’s first-ever medal at a world junior championship, won in 2024 by 17-year-old Abduljabar Adama. Opute and Ebingha were also among the standout performers at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where they established themselves as leading figures in the pool.
The National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, described the awards as a milestone in its broader strategy to nurture homegrown talent for global competition.
“This is proof that with the right structures and international partnerships, Nigerian athletes can compete and excel at the highest level,” Dikko said.
World Aquatics scholarships are reserved for athletes above 18 who demonstrate exceptional promise and strong prospects of Olympic qualification, making the recognition of Opute and Ebingha a significant endorsement of Nigeria’s emerging swimming pedigree.
