The President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Chamberlain Dunkwu, has unveiled the federation’s lineup of national swimming programmes and competitions scheduled for this year.

Speaking during the unveiling of the events at the Media Centre, Package A, National Stadium, Abuja, Dunkwu disclosed that the federation has lined up three major grassroots-focused events aimed at strengthening the foundation of swimming in Nigeria.

The programmes, he said, include “Swim to the Future,” the country’s first-ever Inter-School Swimming Competition, and the National Junior Swimming Championship, tagged “Swim for Life,” scheduled to hold in Lagos.

“Today marks a defining moment for aquatics development in Nigeria. We are not merely announcing events; we are unveiling a vision, a pathway, and a promise to the future of Nigerian swimming.

“We have taken a deliberate and strategic decision: the future of our sport must be built from the grassroots upward.”

Dunkwu emphasised that the federation has adopted a long-term, sustainable approach to development, rather than chasing immediate results.

“NAqF is investing vigorously in grassroots development, widening the base, strengthening school sports, improving competitive exposure, and building a system that consistently produces talent, not occasionally but continuously,” he added.

To drive the efforts, the NAqF president announced that he would personally sponsor the “Swim to the Future” programme, which is scheduled to hold in Abuja.

He said: “We are not chasing short-term success. We are building a future-proof structure, one that develops athletes holistically, empowers coaches, strengthens technical capacity, and instills discipline and life skills through sport.

“As executives, our impact must be felt in the lives of swimmers and technical officials. That is why I will personally sponsor the ‘Swim to the Future’ programme, with funds made available to ensure its successful delivery in March.”

On the federation’s branding, partnerships, and commercial viability, Dunkwu also formally introduced Thrive Resource Centre, as the federation’s official marketing consultant.

He said that the initiatives align with NAqF’s broader objective of producing world-class swimmers, following in the footsteps of Abduljabar Adama, who recently made history as the first Nigerian and first black swimmer to win a medal at the World Aquatics Championships.

According to Dunkwu, the Swim to the Future programme will hold in Abuja on March 7, the Inter-School Swimming Competition is scheduled for March 25 to 27, while the National Junior Swimming Championship (Swim for Life) will hold in Lagos from April 2 to 4, 2026.

Also speaking at the briefing, founder and CEO of Thrive Resource Centre, Catherine Enaohwo, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work with the federation and outlined the organisation’s focus on sustainable funding and human capital development.

She said: “We are honoured to be part of this journey that the current leadership is embarking on. Our strategy focuses on identifying swimmers at a young age, grooming them, and ensuring they receive the international exposure and recognition they deserve.

“Our core focus is human capital development, and we are committed to securing consistent, long-term funding for the federation.”