President’s death forces aquatic federation calendar shake-up News

The Nigeria Aquatics Federation has rescheduled one of its youth swimming initiatives and postponed a national championship following the death of its president, Chamberlain Dunkwu.

In a statement made available to PUNCH Sports Extra on Wednesday, the federation announced that the Swim to the Future event, which had been scheduled for March 7, the same day Dunkwu passed, would now hold on a new date in April, while the National Junior Swimming Championship, Swim for Life, originally fixed for April 2 to April 4 in Lagos, has been postponed indefinitely.

The federation said the decision to reschedule followed the passing of Dunkwu who had been the sole sponsor of the youth-focused initiative and was widely regarded as a strong advocate for the development of aquatic sports in Nigeria.

“The event will now hold on a new date in April 2026 in honour of the late President, in recognition of his remarkable commitment and enduring legacy in the sport,” NAqF said.

The federation also said the postponement of the National Junior Swimming Championship would allow organisers improve logistical arrangements to ensure the successful staging of the competition, adding that new dates for both events would be announced through its official communication channels.

Dunkwu’s death was confirmed by the federation, which said he died in the early hours of Saturday after a brief illness. Before his death, he had remained actively involved in the development of swimming in the country, including supporting youth initiatives designed to expand participation in aquatic sports.

The National Sports Commission described his passing as a significant loss to Nigeria’s sporting community, noting that he had played an important role in promoting swimming and other water sports.

During his time in office, Dunkwu was credited with encouraging grassroots development programmes, strengthening support structures for athletes and promoting collaboration among stakeholders in the country’s sports ecosystem.

Beyond his role in sports administration, he also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, where he was involved in administrative coordination within the National Assembly.

The federation said the aquatic community continued to reflect on his life and contributions as preparations were made to stage upcoming events in honour of his legacy.