Last weekend at Ikoyi Club 1938, a vibrant celebration unfolded, honoring the remarkable achievements of young swimmers who recently excelled at the National Youth Games held in Asaba, Delta State.
The event, hosted within the club’s swimming facility, gathered an enthusiastic crowd of parents, relatives, friends, and notable figures such as Ikoyi Club Chairman Akinwunmi Akintola, Lagos State Sports Commission’s Director of Sports Mr. Nunayon Olumide Travih (representing the Director General), and the Swimming Section Chairman and mentor, Mr. Akinbulejo Onabolu.
While these talented athletes officially competed under various state banners-including Ogun and Osun-they all hone their skills at Ikoyi Club, which has quietly emerged as Nigeria’s premier hub for nurturing swimming talent.
The triumphant team featured standout performers like Tireniolu Nedd, Folarin Azeez, Temidayo Adenubi, Imran Adenusi, Olutise Nedd, Maryam Muhammed, Aidan Dumuje-Abili, Tofunmi Ibidapo, and Timilehin Olaiya representing Lagos State; Beatrice Ward from Osun; Omotara Erinle from Ogun; alongside Lucky Deekor David and Lucky-Deekor Barivure from Rivers State.
Their combined efforts propelled Lagos to a decisive victory, reinforcing the state’s leadership in grassroots swimming development and its rising status as a cradle for national swimming excellence.
During his address, Mr. Travih lauded the swimmers’ dedication and perseverance, while also expressing gratitude to the parents for their trust in allowing their children to represent Lagos.
He further revealed an exciting collaboration between the Lagos State Sports Commission and Ikoyi Club’s swimming section aimed at enhancing structured training programs and creating opportunities for these athletes to compete on the international stage.
“This milestone marks only the start,” Travih emphasized. “Our goal is to elevate these young talents onto the global arena.”
For many attendees, the gathering symbolized more than just winning medals; it was a commitment to fostering the future stars of Nigerian swimming.
Chairman Onabolu highlighted that the team’s success was the result of relentless effort, discipline, and sacrifice from the swimmers, their coaches, the sports sub-committee, and supportive parents.
“Their triumph in Asaba, coupled with strengthened institutional support, positions these young athletes not merely as Youth Games champions but as the promising future of competitive swimming in Nigeria,” he concluded.
