No fewer than 36 kids from schools in the Federal Capital Territory competed for the maiden Joe Blankson Swimming Competition.
They competed in both the butterfly and freestyle categories at the Mashood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
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Speaking about the competition, Mercy Joe-Blankson, the founder of the Joe Blankson foundation, said the kids competed in the U-8, U-11 and U-13 levels.
According to her, the competition was instituted to honour her late husband, Joe-Blankson, who died on the 28th of July, 2018 after saving 13 people from being drowned.
“It is [the competition] to honour what my late husband died for.
“I decided to organise a swimming competition to show the world that swimming is not only a sport but also a survival skill for people to learn.
“He [her husband] was travelling to his hometown but in the process, their boat capsized and he was able to save 13 people. In the process of saving the 14th person, he lost his life.
“We decided to establish this foundation to teach children and adults how to swim,” she said.
While emphasising the need for Nigerians to learn swimming, she said it’s both an exercise and survival skill.
She disclosed that the competition would be staged annually as part of her contribution to the development of swimming in the country.
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