World Aquatics, the global governing body for swimming, has awarded international training scholarships to two of Nigeria’s rising stars.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Monday that Clinton Opute of Delta and Collins Ebingha of Bayelsa are the beneficiaries of the scholarships.
According to World Aquatics, the award is part of its elite development programme designed to provide access to world-class training facilities in Europe.
It is also to prepare the athletes for major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
According to the programme details, Ebingha’s scholarship will run from Sept. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2026, while Opute’s training grant will extend from Sept 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028, in France and Hungary respectively.
The milestone underscores the steady progress Nigeria has recorded in swimming development, following a series of remarkable achievements in recent years.
It also reflects the strategic sports development agenda of the National Sports Commission (NSC), championed under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade.
The Nigeria Swimming Federation plays a pivotal role in advancing opportunities for homegrown talents.
Significantly, the World Aquatics scholarships are reserved for athletes above 18 years, who demonstrate exceptional promise and strong prospects of Olympic qualification.
Opute and Ebingha’s selection is, therefore, viewed as a recognition of their outstanding potential and Nigeria’s rising profile on the international swimming stage.
It will be recalled that the duo, alongside Abduljabar Adama of Ogun, emerged as standout performers at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun.
Their performances confirm Nigeria’s growing pool of elite swimming talents.
Their latest recognition by World Aquatics not only strengthens Nigeria’s Olympic preparations, but also validates the country’s renewed commitment to nurturing world-class athletes.
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