The National Sports Commission (NSC) has extended heartfelt congratulations to 17-year-old Abduljabar Adama and the Nigeria Aquatics Federation after the young swimming prodigy made history by winning silver at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania.

Competing in the fiercely contested men’s 50m butterfly final, Adama delivered an electrifying performance, touching the wall at 23.64 seconds—just 0.10 seconds behind Dean Fearn of Great Britain, who claimed gold with 23.54 seconds.

NSC Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigerian sports and a beacon of hope for young athletes across the continent.

“This is a proud moment for Nigeria and for Africa,” Olopade said. “Abduljabar’s determination, discipline, and raw talent have shown that our athletes can shine on the biggest stages. His silver medal is not just a personal victory, but a national one.”

Adama’s journey to the podium was nothing short of remarkable. He made an early statement in the heats, clocking the second-fastest time out of 116 swimmers with a time of 23.61 seconds. He then went on to win his semifinal with an even faster time of 23.48 seconds before delivering a courageous finish in the final.

This latest triumph adds to Adama’s growing international reputation. Earlier this year, he dazzled at the 16th Africa Junior Swimming Championships in Cairo, Egypt, where he claimed three gold medals, one bronze, and set multiple records—including a new African junior mark in the 50m freestyle.

Hon. Olopade emphasized the NSC’s commitment to nurturing talents like Adama, stating, “This achievement reaffirms our mission to invest in young athletes and provide the right support systems. We believe Abduljabar is just getting started, and the future of Nigerian swimming looks brighter than ever.”