Grassroots Swimming Programme in Port Harcourt Aims to Cut Creek Drowning Deaths

A grassroots swimming programme has launched in waterside neighbourhoods of Port Harcourt, offering free lessons to children after a spike in accidental creek drownings over the past year prompted community coaches and a local swim club to act.

The programme runs weekend sessions in a converted section of a tidal creek fitted with safety ropes and adult supervision, teaching basic water survival skills to children as young as six. Organisers say many children in waterside communities grow up around water daily but are never formally taught to swim, a gap they describe as a longstanding and largely ignored safety issue.

"Everybody assumes children here already know how to swim because they live by the water. That assumption has cost lives," said the programme's lead coach, a former competitive swimmer who grew up in the area.

Beyond safety, organisers hope the programme surfaces swimming talent that could eventually feed into competitive state and national swim teams, an area they say has been historically under-scouted in the region compared to football. Local sports authorities have expressed interest in supporting an expansion of the programme to additional waterside communities next year.