The transformation of sports facilities across Kwara State has continued to yield positive results, with stakeholders attributing the rapid growth of swimming and other grassroots sports to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s sustained investment in modern infrastructure and athlete development.
This was the consensus at the 3rd Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Age Group Swimming Championship, held at the refurbished Swimming Pool of the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji, lauded Governor AbdulRazaq for his commitment to repositioning sports in the state through the provision of world-class facilities and an enabling environment for athletes to thrive.
According to him, the rehabilitation of the swimming pool, which had previously fallen into disrepair, is a clear demonstration of the administration’s vision to revive sports and nurture future champions.
“Today, hope is rising in Kwara sports. Before this administration came on board, the swimming pool was in a deplorable condition, but Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has restored it to standard and made it functional again,” Magaji said.
“Swimming is a medal-rich sport, and with this catch-them-young initiative, we are confident that Kwara will soon produce national champions and international stars. The facilities are now available, the athletes are motivated, and the coaches have the right environment to work.”
The Sports Commission boss noted that the impact of the government’s sports development agenda is already being felt across several disciplines, including cycling, squash, badminton, chess, scrabble and athletics, where young athletes from the state are making remarkable progress at national and international levels.
“Kwara is fully back in sports. Our young athletes are excelling because they now have access to quality facilities, good coaching and improved welfare packages. These are critical ingredients for success in modern sports,” he added.
Magaji, however, challenged coaches to continually improve themselves through training and capacity-building programmes in order to keep pace with global best practices.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Kwara State Swimming Association and Second National Vice President of the Aquatic Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Owolabi Agbaji Wopa, expressed appreciation to Governor AbdulRazaq for supporting the association’s monthly age-group competitions, describing the initiative as a major catalyst for the growth of swimming in the state.
He said the regular championships have become an effective platform for talent identification, athlete development and youth engagement.
“We are grateful to His Excellency for sponsoring our monthly age-group competitions. The programme has significantly improved the standard of swimming in Kwara State and has given many young talents the opportunity to showcase their abilities,” Wopa stated.
“It is not just about sports; it is also about encouraging the children to combine education with athletics while preparing them for future opportunities.”
Wopa revealed that plans are underway to host a North Central Swimming Championship in Ilorin, leveraging the state’s unique advantage of possessing some of the best aquatic facilities in the region.
“As members of the board of the Aquatic Federation of Nigeria, our mandate is to develop the sport from the grassroots. Kwara is fortunate to have both 25-metre and 50-metre swimming pools, as well as a diving pool. These facilities place us in a strategic position to become a leading centre for aquatic sports development in Nigeria.”
He commended members of the Kwara State Swimming Association and the coaching crew for their dedication and contributions to the progress recorded so far, while urging them not to relent in their efforts to produce elite swimmers for the state and the nation.
The championship attracted talented male and female swimmers from Kwara and Oyo states, aged between 10 and 17 years, who competed in various events including freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and individual medley races.
The competition once again underscored Kwara State’s growing reputation as a breeding ground for young sporting talents.
Kwara State swimming Head Coach, Ahmed Adebayo, who coordinated the event led other coaches in an exhibition contest, to rap up the show.
