Kwara’s Adama Shines Bright at Africa Junior Swimming Championships, Wins Three Gold Medals
By Omowumi Omotosho
Kwara’s teenage swimming prodigy, AbdulJabar Adama, has once again proven his rising dominance in African swimming after a breathtaking performance at the just-concluded 16th Africa Junior Swimming Championships (AJSC) held in Cairo, Egypt, from April 30 to May 3, 2025.
The 16-year-old sensation, who hails from Ita Elefun, Ilorin and is the grandson of the late Alhaji Adama Ebodaniyan, left no doubt about his immense talent and determination, securing an incredible four medals for Nigeria, three golds and one bronze, while also being named the Best Male Swimmer of the Tournament.
Adama’s first golden moment came in the 50m butterfly, where he made history by breaking the championship record twice in one day — first in the heats with a time of 24.19 seconds, and again in the final with a blistering 23.89 seconds.
He followed up this performance with a dominant victory in the 50m freestyle, clocking 12.54 seconds to smash the previous record of 22.65 seconds, leaving spectators in awe and his competitors in his wake. He later added another gold medal in the 100m freestyle, further cementing his name among Africa’s brightest swimming stars.
Though he didn’t surpass his personal best of the championship record in the 100m freestyle, Adama’s commanding pace and technical precision were more than enough to secure Nigeria’s third gold medal in the pool. He completed his medal haul with a bronze medal, bringing glory not just to Nigeria, but particularly to his hometown of Ilorin and the entire Kwara State.
Currently a student at the prestigious Mount Kelly College, AbdulJabar Adama is no stranger to international competition. He previously represented Nigeria at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana, March 2024, where he was part of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team that won a bronze medal. He also competed at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2023 in Trinidad and Tobago, gaining valuable experience on the global stage.
