Gateway Games: Olopade NSC DG sees Olympic prospects in IJA swimming team

In a glowing endorsement for Nigeria’s emerging young talents, National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade has praised the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) for their impressive performance at the 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun 2024.

Olopade, visibly excited during the medal presentation at the swimming event, highlighted the remarkable achievements of IJA swimmer Aidan Dumuje Abili, who secured three medals—two silvers and a bronze—so far in the competition.

“It truly gladdens my heart to see the immediate impact of this new IJA project we initiated at the NSC,” Olopade remarked. “We gave these young athletes a platform to showcase their talent at the elite level, and they’re proving that age is just a number. Their confidence and performance here are commendable, and I’m excited about what they can achieve with more exposure in the future.”

Abili expressed gratitude to the NSC for offering him and his peers the opportunity to compete at such a prestigious level. “I’ve never participated at this level before, and I’ve learned so much from this experience. It will definitely help in my career, and I’m committed to making the most of it,” he said.

Looking ahead, the young swimmer vowed to use upcoming international competitions to elevate Nigeria’s presence on the global stage. “My goal now is to qualify for the Youth Olympics, and then aim for the Olympics in the future. I want to ensure that Nigeria is on the podium, and I will work hard to make that happen,” Abili declared.

A standout athlete at the 2024 National Youth Games, Abili is already demonstrating his potential with his medal haul—adding to his triple gold at that event—by winning silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke, and bronze in the 200m backstroke at Ogun 2024.

As the young athletes continue to impress, the NSC’s initiative to nurture these talents could very well be the cornerstone of Nigeria’s future swimming successes—aiming for medals at the Olympics and beyond.

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