ANDREW EKEJIUBA
President of Nigerian Tennis Federation, Akintoju Ifedayo has hailed the quality of organization and robust record breaking prize money the ongoing 43rd CBN National Senior Tennis Open Championship (men and women) in Abuja is enjoying.
He noted that the Federation has enjoyed a very cordial relationship and sponsorship with the country’s apex bank, which has spanned over four decades.
The 43rd CBN National Senior Tennis Open Championship entered the records of being the best in the history of men and women Singles Championship in the country with the highest Singles prize money of one million naira each for the first positions in both categories.
Ifedayo further noted that this year’s CBN Senior Tennis Open Championship which attracts male and female youths across the country has created a record of being the highest and best of the championships in the history of its sponsorship in Nigeria, adding that the fact that the Singles first prize money is one million naira in both categories speaks volumes of the bank’s decision to make Tennis sponsorship a priority.
He maintained that the CBN would not have achieved this feat without the support of its sports loving Governor, Godwin Emefiele whom he commended for his total commitment towards the development of Tennis in the country.
The NTF President, while assuring the sponsors of benefiting from their commitment, said the Championship has produced great talents in both men and women who have been representing the country at various global and continental tournaments. He assured that the winners of this year’s edition will represent the country at the Davis Cup competition which is equivalent of football world cup competition.
A total of N13, 100, 000.00 has been earmarked as the sponsorship package of the 43rd edition of the championship.
The CBN Governor, Emefiele, who was represented by the Acting Director Corporate Communication Department, Osita Nwanisiobi said: “The objective of the senior tennis championship is to create a platform for the discovery, harnessing and grooming of young tennis talents and deploying them to represent the nation at international tennis tournaments like the Davies Cup, Billie Jean Cup etc. It has over the years also served as a platform to take young talents off the streets and afford them an opportunity to channel their energy rightfully and showcase their talent.”
In recognizing the critical role of the youth in nation building, the CBN Governor called on all Nigerian youths to maximize this opportunity provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Tennis Federation for the discovery, harnessing and grooming of young talents with a view to showcasing them at major tournaments within and outside the shores of Nigeria.