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Ikoyi Club provides platform for young swimmers, says Adekoya

By Gowon Akpodonor
01 February 2017   |   1:49 am
It was thrills and glamour for primary school children in Lagos at the second Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming gala, which ended at the weekend.
Set, go…primary school children competing in the second edition of Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming gala last weekend in Lagos. The event was sponsored by Zenith Bank. Photo: Gowon Akpodonor

Set, go…primary school children competing in the second edition of Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming gala last weekend in Lagos. The event was sponsored by Zenith Bank. Photo: Gowon Akpodonor

St. Saviours School wins Zenith Bank inter-school swimming gala
It was thrills and glamour for primary school children in Lagos at the second Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming gala, which ended at the weekend.

The exercise, sponsored by Zenith Bank was attended by children from nine primary schools, with St. Saviours School emerging overall champions. They scored 241 points to top the table ahead of Children’s International School, Lekki, who finished second with 156 points, just as Corona School placed third with 131 points.

The chairman, swimming section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Segun Adekoya, told The Guardian that the exercise was part of the Club’s effort to lay a good foundation for young Nigerian swimmers. “For some years now, the swimming section of Ikoyi Club 1938 has been in the forefront of discovering young swimmers for this country. Our target is to see that one of these children becomes an Olympic medalist in the nearest future. I am very grateful Zenith Bank sponsored this year’s edition and we hope they will continue to play in this building process of our young swimmers,” Adekoya stated.

He revealed that secondary children would take their turn on Saturday in the inter-school swimming gala also being sponsored by Zenith Bank.

The President Aquatics Federation of Nigeria, Babatunde Fatai-Williams, described the completion as ‘wonderful,’ saying: “This is a catch them young competition because primary school is the foundation for swimming. All over the world, swimmers usually start early. If they started learning from age six, it would be very good for them because at that stage they tend to learn very well and the basics learned will stick to their brains.

“The problem facing swimming and other sports in the country has been lack of funds and for Zenith Bank to put money in this competition shows their love for sports and development of youths,” he stated.

The General Manager, Power and Infrastructure Group, E-Business and Card Services, Zenith Bank, Wunmi Ogunbiyi, told The Guardian they would continue to play their part by providing the platform for children to exhibit their skills in every part of the country. “This is part of our social responsibility for our people, and we will continue to do so, particularly for the sake of our young swimmers who are leaders of tomorrow. We have been doing it in football, tennis and other sports. It is a way of developing the young one to attain their potential,” she stated.

The star athletes of the competition were the duo of AbdulJabar Adama and Iman Adama, who won four and three gold medals respectively for Corona School. Their father, Tunde Adama, was full of praises for Zenith Bank for the sponsorship of the competition.

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