Young swimmers shine at 2nd Pan-African School Games

Young swimmers showed their talent at the Olympic-size pool of James Hope College, Lekki, on Friday, October 16, as the swimming events of the second Pan-African School Games got underway before an enthusiastic crowd.

The three-day competition, organised by Seun Akinbohun, Busola Tejumola and Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, has drawn more than 11 schools. Swimmers aged between 11 and 15 are competing in the Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 categories, with medals and bragging rights at stake.

Parents and guardians turned out in large numbers, and cheers echoed around the pool as the youngsters pushed for victory.

Ope-Ajayi, a co-organiser, said the games were born out of a passion to create meaningful opportunities for young people through sport. She said that despite financial challenges, the organisers remain committed to nurturing future champions and giving children a platform to discover and develop their talents.

She added that the success of the first edition encouraged the organisers to expand the competition, and she credited sponsors and partners with helping to sustain it. She also thanked parents for backing the initiative, noting that almost 400 children and more than 200 parents attended on the opening day.

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“The competition is deliberately scheduled during the students’ half-term break to ensure participation would not interfere with academic commitments,” she said.

“Beyond medals and trophies, we hope the games will instil discipline, resilience and sportsmanship in the participants.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Riverbank School, Regina Jemide, praised the organisers for improving on the inaugural edition and providing a valuable platform for students to showcase their abilities.

The tournament, formerly known as the African School Games, has been rebranded as the Pan-African School Games to reflect its broader vision and continental ambitions.