Emeka Nnadi quit his job in Barcelona to teach Nigerians–and Africans—to swim before the next storm hits. Now, two of his swimmers are preparing to take on the world at the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.
By Seth Onyango
The sun glinted off the rippling surface of the pool in Lagos, Nigeria. Busayo Adegbulugbe, 33, a paraplegic man whose powerful upper body and muscled arms have long propelled his wheelchair, perched on the edge. He stretched and steadied himself on the deck.
Years of pushing his wheelchair forward had built his strength, and now that strength would guide him through the water.
“Are you ready?” Emeka Chuks-Nnadi, the founder of the Swim in 1 Day organisation, yelled from the pool.
“Action!”
Adegbulugbe obliged and plunged in. The water swallowed him briefly, then released him in a surge of motion. His arms sliced forward, powerful and precise, each stroke defying the paralysis that claimed his legs.
Powerful scenes like these unfold daily at Swim in 1 Day, the Lagos organisation Nnadi believes can combat Africa’s drowning crisis by teaching vital water survival skills to the most vulnerable, especially those with disabilities.
Already, two of Nnadi’s trainees, Femi Egbowon, 16, an amputee from Ondo State, and Segun Vidal, 18, a visually impaired swimmer from Lagos, are working towards Los Angeles 2028 under the SID Junior Paralympic Preparatory Swim Team.
In flood-prone Nigeria, where raging waters routinely displace thousands and destroy homes, swimming could mean the difference between life and death. National statistics reveal a staggering 27,000 annual drowning deaths in pools, beaches, lakes, and lagoons.
According to ReliefWeb, as of September 2024, over 137,000 people across Nigeria had been affected by seasonal flooding, with 68 deaths and nearly 20,000 people displaced.
The floods damaged more than 42,000 hectares of farmland, raising fears of food insecurity and deepening poverty in rural areas.
The situation mirrors broader patterns across the continent.
Greenpeace Africa’s analysis last year warned that at least 2.2 million people across 12 African countries were affected by extreme flooding in 2023 alone.
In South Sudan, 1 million people were displaced. In Kenya, floods submerged entire neighbourhoods in Nairobi, while in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, flash floods killed hundreds and swept away homes.
Last year, the United Nations warned at its COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan that climate-induced disasters will intensify, with vulnerable regions such as Africa facing the greatest risks as extreme weather patterns push communities further into crisis.
Greenpeace noted that climate change is already making extreme weather events, like floods and cyclones, more frequent and deadly, particularly in regions with poor drainage systems and limited emergency infrastructure.
For Nnadi, the urgency of water survival skills has never been higher, which is why he advocates for swimming awareness.
“We are a campaign,” Nnadi insisted. “We are not just a swimming charity. We are trying to prepare people for the floods that will come, and empower those who have been ignored, misunderstood, and written off.”
But funding remains a major challenge. Nnadi has relied solely on his savings, with support from his siblings—especially his mother—to keep Swim in 1 Day afloat. Yet, the urgent need for funding to expand awareness in Africa and build swimming facilities continues to grow.
Nnadi’s journey home to launch Swim in 1 Day began on the shores of Lagos, but his vision started long before then. A business consultant, climate activist, and swimmer extraordinaire based in Barcelona, he had long felt a tug in his heart—a calling to return to Africa and use his skills to prepare the most vulnerable for the consequences of climate change—most of which, he points out, are water-related.
Nnadi, passionate about swimming, cited a 2024 UNEP study showing that over 90% of natural disasters are linked to water, making swimming a vital survival skill.
It started almost accidentally. In 2021, during a five-month holiday in Nigeria at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Nnadi spent his days swimming at sea. He would disappear for hours into the water, emerging to applause from children who had made a habit of waiting for him.
“One of them came to me and said, ‘Sir, can you teach me to swim so I can be like you?’ That touched my heart,” Nnadi recalled. “I told him, ‘I won’t wait for you to grow up—I’ll teach you now so you can be even better than me.’”
That decision sparked a movement.
When beach authorities tried to stop him—claiming the children, who lived in tents with their parents, were “unwanted” near paying beachgoers—Nnadi’s frustration boiled over. He made the decision he had been putting off for years. He shut down his company in Barcelona and moved back to Nigeria to start the initiative that would become Swim in 1 Day.
In 2022, he registered the campaign. By 2023, it was officially up and running.
But calling it a swim school would be selling it short. Nnadi’s work sits at the intersection of climate adaptation, disability inclusion, and social justice. He trains people with disabilities, like Adegbulugbe, to swim in open water and pools.
He teaches children from underserved communities the skills they’ll need when the next storm comes. And most importantly, he talks—a lot—about the myths and harmful beliefs that hold communities back.
“In Africa, disability is still seen as a curse,” he noted. “People think the child is being punished for the sins of their ancestors. These are innocent kids. They didn’t choose this life.”
Discrimination against people with disabilities remains one of the biggest challenges. Many swimming facilities deny access to those with disabilities, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. “People with disability don’t have a communicable disease,” Nnadi said, frustrated by the barriers that still exist.
That’s why education is at the core of his work. Whether he’s giving talks to schoolchildren, organising community workshops, or filming documentary material, Nnadi is on a mission to shift mindsets.
Nnadi stressed that real change in Africa comes through knowledge, not just donations or aid as the former will force people to take action.
His upcoming documentary, Make or Break: Our Dark Dilemma, aims to drive that point home.
The film will explore how everyday choices, fuelled by ignorance or compassion, can make or destroy lives. It’s also a plea to Africans to question inherited beliefs.
“Just because your ancestors passed down certain ideas doesn’t mean you have to follow them. You can reason it out. You can choose to do better,” he asserted. “Because one day, any of us could be disabled. Wouldn’t you want to be treated with dignity?”
Despite the heavy themes, there’s joy in the water. Children giggle as they paddle for the first time. Adults emerge beaming from a pool, surprised at how quickly they’ve learned.
“A lot of children living with intellectual disability aren’t very social, but when you put them in water, you see them changing and becoming very social,” Nnadi said, highlighting the transformative impact of swimming.
His Swim in 1 Day campaign stems from Nnadi’s belief that he can teach almost anyone to swim in a day, no matter their age, trauma, or physical ability.
“My magic doesn’t extend to people who don’t want to learn,” he laughed. “But if you show up willing, I promise it will happen.”
And as floods become more common in Nigeria, Nnadi’s work is turning into a lifesaving mission. Not only are people learning to swim but also learning to believe in themselves, to reject shame, and to demand a seat at the table.
Back at the pool, Adegbulugbe finished his lap. He grinned, breathless. Nnadi’s nod was approving.
bird story agency
Emeka Chuks-Nnadi, founder of the Swim in 1 Day organization in Lagos, Nigeria, is on a mission to combat Africa's drowning crisis by teaching swimming and water survival skills. His initiative is particularly focused on vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities. Nnadi’s passion for swimming and his commitment to social justice are exemplified by his work with paraplegic and amputee swimmers preparing for the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. In flood-prone Nigeria, with significant drowning rates, Nnadi emphasizes the importance of swimming as a vital skill to survive climate-induced disasters.
Nnadi, who left a successful career in Barcelona to launch his swimming campaign in Nigeria, aims to educate communities, combat discrimination against disabled individuals, and dispel harmful beliefs. His upcoming documentary, "Make or Break: Our Dark Dilemma," seeks to challenge inherited ideas about disabilities and promote dignity for all. Despite funding challenges, Nnadi's efforts have transformed lives, with children becoming more social through swimming, while adults learn to swim in a supportive atmosphere. His belief is that knowledge and skills will evoke necessary change rather than relying solely on aid.
