Nigeria’s youth swimmers turned heads in Accra, Ghana, with a record-breaking display at the 2025 Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship that signalled a new dawn for the sport in the country.
Leading the charge was 14-year-old Aidan Dumuije-Abili, who swept six gold medals and broke five continental records, including a blistering 100m freestyle time of 55.31 seconds. His performances earned him the Most Valuable Junior Athlete award and placed him among Africa’s brightest aquatic talents.
“This is more than medals; it’s about proving Nigeria can compete at the highest level,” said Secretary-General of the Nigeria Aquatic Federation, Taiwo Oriss.
Aidan was joined on the podium by teammates such as Endurance Olise, who won two gold medals on his debut, and 12-year-old Maryam Muhammed, whose calm composure and technical skill earned praise from coaches. Long-distance specialist Timilehin Olaya collected three golds, while Goodluck Godwin’s strong finishes secured him a place in the World Aquatics Future Wave Training Programme.
In total, Nigeria’s junior team brought home 30 medals — 11 gold, five silver and 14 bronze — to finish among the top three nations, alongside Ghana and Senegal.
For coach Abiodun Ojomo, the results confirmed that structured youth investment is paying off: “From fearless first-timers to record-breakers, this team is building Nigeria’s swimming future.”
