Africa Aquatics Commends Reps Speaker for facilitating 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship in Honour of Tinubu

…Confirms Participation of 32 Countries in Abuja Tournament

Paschal Emeka, Abuja / Posted December 11, 2023

The Vice President/Secretary General of Africa Aquatics, Zone 2, Senegal, Mr. Babatunde Fatayi Williams, organisers of the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship in honour of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, for his lead role in facilitating the forthcoming championship, billed for Abuja.

Mr. Fatayi Williams, who made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Lagos at the weekend, thanked Rt. Hon. Abbas, for his interest in sports development in Nigeria and other African countries, confirmed that the championship will attract no fewer than 32 African countries that will converge on Abuja for the event.

According to Africa Aquatics’ vice-president who also doubles as the secretary general of the continental swimming confederation, the 1st Invitational Swimming Championship was being organised by Africa Aquatics Zone 2, Dakar-Senegal, Demakers Business Roundtable International Abuja and the Office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, House of the Representatives, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders in honour of ECOWAS Chairman and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

It would be recalled that Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas had earlier received the trophy of the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship from the organisers in Abuja, preparatory to the formal presentation to Mr. President in the State House.

The Speaker, while receiving the trophy had maintained that sports creates job opportunities for youths either directly or indirectly in infrastructure and services, transportation and accommodation, including security, which help to reduce unemployment and improve household income levels while boosting economic growth.

The Reps Speaker noted that the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship would be a good platform to discover credible talents that could represent Nigeria at other international swimming championships in the future, saying that the event would also go a long way to inspire youths of all grades to participate competitively, imbibe values of teamwork, patriotism and courage.

While handing over the trophy to the Speaker, House Representatives, the International Director of Planning and Implementation, for the championship, Dr. Godwin Tammy had expressed deep appreciation to the House of Reps Speaker for his sacrifice of love and commitment towards President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, describing the 1st. African Invitational Swimming Championship as a moment of aquatic sport festivity in the Federal Capital Teritory during the event.

Dr. Tammy informed that swimmers and aquatic sport stakeholders, drawn from no fewer than 32 African countries will converge on Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Teritory for the Championship, tagged, ‘Peace and Progress’ in honour of ECOWAS chairman and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.

He further disclosed that the continental aquatic event, which would water tourism, was put together under the lead role of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas in appreciation of the charismatic leadership and growing regional influence of President Bola Tinubu in these turbulent times.

Dr. Tammy said that the trophy of the championship would be unveiled during its formal presentation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, to signal the commencement of the swimming championship in Abuja.

The CEO of Demakers Business Roundtable International, hinted that the continental championship, organised in collaboration with relevant institutions within and beyond the African continent, would be hosted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Teritory (FTC), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

“This is the first of its kind, ever organised in honour of an African leader. It promises to be an exciting event and a moment of glory, laced with blissful ectacsy, finese and alluring quality of talents dotted across Africa with over five thousand male and female swimmers drawn from 32 African countries converging on the beautiful city of Abuja to fight for the continental crown.

“It will attract a collection of regional stakeholders in sports development who are committed to youth development and empowerment,” Dr. Tammy hinted.

He expressed the hope that the swimming championship would help to discover more young talented swimmers, who will represent Nigeria in future international swimming championships.