Tag: Tennis Championship

The maiden edition of the Senate President National Open Lawn Tennis Championship has been scheduled for October.

The Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, said that the tournament would be organised by the Africa Sports Management Nigeria Limited in collaboration with the Nigeria Tennis Federation.

The Chairman and  CEO of Africa Sports Management, Rt. Hon. Prince Matthew Kolawole, yesterday led a delegation to the Office of the President of the Senate, accompanied by Rotimi Akinloye as the representative of the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, to formally intimate the Senate President with the initiative.

The visit was facilitated by the Chairman of Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ningi.

Kolawole said the championship was being organised in recognition of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s effective leadership at the National Assembly.

He said the main objectives of the tournament were to promote Tennis development in Nigeria, provide lifestyle and engage Nigerian Youths through competitive sporting championship by using sports as medium of connection.

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Kolawole also announced that the tournament would hold in Abuja and Uyo in Akwa Ibom state.

Receiving his guests, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio welcomed the initiative and assured them of his support.

Akpabio seized the occasion to appeal to the Nigerian private sector to assist 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.

“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,” Akpabio said.

The absence of  the Men’s and Women’s Singles defending champions notwithstanding, the best of tennis was really on display at the 46^th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria National Open Tennis Championship at the package ‘B’ of the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abuja, at the weekend .

 Emmanuel Michael and Chicago based Adesuwa Osabuohien surpassed all odds to emerge champions in  Men’s and Women’s  Championship.

Playing  in the men’s singles category, Michael defeated hard fighting Prosper Okonkwo, 2-1 ( 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to lift the trophy and carted home the star cash prize attached to it while Chicago-based Adesuwa Osabuohien came from a set down to stop Omotayo Blessing, 2-1 also ( 3-6, 5-1, 6-4 ) to emerge victorious.

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In her closing remarks, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services of the CBN, Mrs Emen Usoro ably represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama SIdi Ali, said for over four decades, the apex bank  has remained consistent since this tournament came on stream even with the introduction of the junior tennis tournament in 2006 which serves as .

She said the bank remain passionate about the holistic development of the Nigerian youth even as the bank recognises sports as a powerful platform not just for entertainment but for empowerment, engagement and National integration.