The tennis landscape in Nigeria is set for a significant uplift with the announcement of the maiden Senate President National Open Lawn Tennis Championship, scheduled to hold this October. The tournament aims to bolster tennis development, promote healthy lifestyles and actively engage Nigerian youth through competitive sport.
The championship is a joint initiative between Africa Sports Management Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Tennis Federation. A delegation, led by Rt. Hon. Prince Mathew Kolawole, Chairman and CEO of Africa Sports Management, formally apprised the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of the upcoming event during a visit to his office on Wednesday. Kolawole was accompanied by Rotimi Akinloye, representing the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, with the visit facilitated by Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development.
Prince Kolawole stated that the championship is organized to recognize Senate President Akpabio’s effective leadership within the National Assembly. He highlighted the primary objectives of the tournament as promoting tennis development across Nigeria, providing a platform for a healthy lifestyle and engaging Nigerian youth by utilizing competitive sports as a means of connection and growth.
The tournament matches will be hosted in two key locations: the nation’s capital, Abuja and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
Upon receiving his guests, Senate President Godswill Akpabio warmly welcomed the initiative and pledged his full support. He used the opportunity to make a strong appeal to the Nigerian private sector to increase their involvement in funding sports.
“The private sector can drive sports in Nigeria. Sports must not be funded by only the government. There are too many competing items for the resources of the federal government,” Akpabio emphasized. He urged, “Let the private sector come in and assist us, and this kind of competition is a way of attracting the private sector, encouraging the students to take interest in tennis and in future they will make Nigeria proud.”
This new championship is anticipated to be a crucial step in discovering and nurturing new talent in Nigerian tennis, contributing significantly to the nation’s sports development agenda.
