Tunde Giwa-Daramola, Commodore of the Navy Sailing Club, Ojo, in Lagos on Friday said the club would continue to intensify effort to nurture budding talents in water sports.
Giwa-Daramola made this known during the club’s Independence Day/Commodore’s Boat Race organised to celebrate the country’s 61st Independence Anniversary.
“Nigeria is 61 today and despite all the challenges we are facing, we still have reasons to celebrate the significance of the day.
“We do this yearly to also committed to identify and nurture talents that would represent the country in water sports in the nearest future.
“The club remain the foremost sailing club in the country and I am proud to say that anybody that is anybody in water both past and present started from this club.
“We will continue in this line to enhance water sports through our underage swimmers and sailors who are the future of the country,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of the event, retired Rear Admiral Andrew Okoja, said he was impressed with what the club was doing to identify and nurture budding talents.
Okoja, who was the club’s first Commodore, commended its present members for upholding the legacy of the club.
“What the club is doing is very encouraging and it shows they are building on the legacy we left.
“The major significance is that talents are being identified regularly through this yearly events,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Japhath, a nine-year-old boy who won the boys swimming event at the competition, thanked the club for always engaging young athletes in water sports.
“I started swimming in the club at the age of four and ever since then, I have participated in all the events organised and it has help me improve my skills,” he said.
Also, Khadijah Aminu-Giginya, a 14-year-old participant, said her desire is to represent the country in the nearest future.
“I started this sport when I was five and ever since it has been a great experience for me because I have competed in two national competitions and I hope to represent Nigeria one day,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants competed in over 10 events in the competition.
NAN also reports that three new members were inducted into the club during the event.
