By Aderonke Ojo
The President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Dukwu Nnamdi Chamberlain, has officially acknowledged and welcomed the invitation extended to Pastor Nseobong Samuel Jesemiel to serve as Chief Referee at the upcoming Africa Open Water Swimming Tournament scheduled to hold in Conakry, Guinea, from November 28 to 30, 2025.
Pastor Jesemiel, a respected technical expert and senior official within Nigeria’s aquatics community, was invited by the Fédération Aquatique de Guinée (FAG) to provide high-level technical support for the continental event.
According to the official request from the Guinean federation, his deployment is expected from November 24 to December 2, 2025, during which he will play a key role in ensuring the successful execution of the championship.
In its correspondence, the Guinea Aquatics Federation highlighted Pastor Jesemiel’s “expertise and experience as a technical assistant,” describing him as an asset capable of strengthening the technical organisation, safety framework, and officiating standards of the competition in line with the African Swimming Confederation (CANA) requirements.
Reacting to the development, President Dukwu Nnamdi Chamberlain expressed delight at the recognition of Nigerian officials at the continental level. He noted that the invitation underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in aquatic sports and serves as a testament to the credibility and professionalism of the federation’s technical personnel.
> “We are pleased to receive this invitation from our colleagues in Guinea and proud of Pastor Jesemiel’s nomination as Chief Referee. His selection is a strong acknowledgment of Nigeria’s technical expertise and our commitment to the advancement of aquatics in Africa. The Nigeria Aquatics Federation fully supports this engagement and wishes him a productive and impactful assignment,” President Chamberlain said.
The event in Conakry is expected to gather elite swimmers, technical experts, and continental officials as part of ongoing efforts to elevate open water swimming competitions across Africa.
With Pastor Jesemiel’s participation, Nigeria continues to play a leading role in shaping the standards and growth of aquatic sports within the region.