NYG : Huge participation in swimming event, the high point for me – Aquatic President, Chinoye Aliyu

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Asaba
 
 
The President of Nigeria Aquatic Federation (NAF), Chief, Mrs. Chinoye Aliu, is very elated with the huge turnout of states that competed in the Swimming event at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.

The NAF president, stated that the turnout of athletes is clear evidence of the hard work of the federation and the various state governments in projecting the sport in their states.

“I would rate the aquatics event very high because a lot of states participated.We at the Nigeria Aquatics Federation are getting it right, we have grown, we are doing well, we are performing at the continental level, we are doing very well,” she added.

She was full of praise for Lagos State, that secured 19 gold medals for aquatics, commending the Lagos State government for utilizing its resources to the full.

Mrs. Chinoye Aliyu made this statement in an exclusive interview with Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye. She expressed her appreciation to the organisers of the event stressing that it was seamless and hitch free.

“The facilities we have here are standard, this is an Olympic size swimming pool, so we have used all the parameters of the Olympic Games to organize the event ,” she added.

Mrs. Aliyu went on to add that in a bid to keep the level of coaching in aquatics at it’s peak, the federation has organised a biennial coaching course, which every aquatics coach is mandated to attend.

She called on the government, corporate bodies and well meaning individuals to help upgrade the quality of facilities in Nigeria to meet international level.

“We need to step up, we need to upgrade our swimming facilities so that we will be at the same level with the world,” she explained.