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Tag: ValueJet

  • Valuejet Lagos Para Table Tennis Championships to produce new champs

    Valuejet Lagos Para Table Tennis Championships to produce new champs

    Fresh faces are expected to shine on Friday, July 11, as new champions will be crowned at the 2025 Valuejet Lagos Para Table Tennis Championships.

    Now in its 7th  edition, the three-day tournament has drawn over 100 athletes from within and outside Nigeria. It has become a vital platform for discovering and nurturing para table tennis talent.

    One of the tournament’s most notable alumni, Isau Ogunkunle—Africa’s sole table tennis medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games—hailed the event as a springboard for aspiring athletes.

     “I recall how this tournament brought me into the spotlight in 2019. Since then, I’ve competed in two Paralympic Games and won a medal in my second appearance. I’m now aiming for gold in Los Angeles. I believe this year’s edition will unveil new talents who can follow a similar path,” said Ogunkunle, who also clinched gold at the 2025 National Sports Festival.

    Read Also: ValueJet to launch direct Lagos-Banjul flights, boost West African connectivity

    The final day will feature seven finals across singles and doubles events. The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to supporting para sports.

    According to Lekan Fatodu, the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), the state remains dedicated to promoting inclusivity through sports.

     “Each year, we witness remarkable achievements in para table tennis. Lagos has become a hub for para sports development, offering opportunities for athletes to showcase their talents and potentially represent Nigeria on the global stage,” Fatodu said.

     “Lagos is known for excellence in sports, and this competition is no exception. Preparations have been meticulous, logistics are in place, and we’re set for a successful event. This promises to be an exciting experience for players, spectators, officials, and all Lagosians,” he added.

  • Valuejet Lagos Regional Para Table Tennis Championships  begin with frenzy

    Valuejet Lagos Regional Para Table Tennis Championships  begin with frenzy

    The 2025 Valuejet Lagos Regional Para Table Tennis Championships kicked off spectacularly at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, with Paralympic medallists lighting up the competition.

    Among the standout athletes are Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Olufemi Alabi and Tajudeen Agunbiade, as well as Paris 2024 bronze medallist Isau Ogunkunle. Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.

    A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events. Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.

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    Several singles events have already reached the finals, scheduled for Friday, July 11. Meanwhile, the doubles events will take centre stage today, July 10.

    Two-time Paralympian Faith Obiora, speaking at the pre-tournament press briefing, praised the competition as a vital platform for skill development and talent discovery. “This tournament has been instrumental since its inception seven years ago. Even when international competitions were scarce, it provided us with the opportunity to stay sharp and compete at a high level. Its impact on our careers is immeasurable, and we hope it continues to nurture new talent for Nigeria,” Obiora said.

    President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, commended the tournament’s consistency, calling it one of Africa’s most enduring para-sport events.

     “We must applaud the Sunday Odebode Foundation for its unwavering commitment to promoting para sports. Organizing able-bodied sports in Nigeria is already challenging—doing so for para sports is even more so. Yet, they’ve persisted, and with Valuejet’s support for the seventh edition, we’re seeing the results,” Oshodi stated.

    He added: “Our athletes are constantly training and have performed well at the National Sports Festival, but competing against international opponents truly brings out their best. Isau Ogunkunle’s bronze at the Paralympics—the only medal Nigeria won—deserves more recognition. He credits the support of Sunday Odebode and his foundation, and we hope this tournament marks the beginning of another successful Paralympic journey.”

  • ValueJet to launch direct Lagos-Banjul flights, boost West African connectivity

    ValueJet to launch direct Lagos-Banjul flights, boost West African connectivity

    Air travel within Africa is set to improve further as Nigerian carrier ValueJet Airlines finalizes plans to commence direct flights between Lagos and Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, starting May 15, 2025.

    The new service will offer travelers more options for business, leisure, and other purposes, strengthening connectivity between two of West Africa’s most vibrant regions.

    According to a statement from the airline, the Lagos-Banjul route will enhance air links crucial to regional development, open access to Gambia’s growing tourism sector, and promote stronger economic relations between Nigeria and The Gambia.

    Flights will operate twice weekly from the new terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to Banjul’s international terminal.

    Aviation experts have described the route as a key milestone in ValueJet’s broader strategy to expand its footprint across the West African coast.

    Read Also: ValueJet, NFF partnership for  Super Eagles excites Majekodunmi

    “The launch of our Lagos to Banjul flight is an important milestone in ValueJet’s vision to promote travel options and connectivity within West Africa,” said Capt. Omololu Majekodunmi, the airline’s Managing Director and Accountable Manager.

    “We’re proud to contribute to bridging distances, fostering economic ties, and creating new opportunities for trade and tourism between Nigeria, The Gambia, and the region at large,” he added.

    Majekodunmi emphasized that the airline remains committed to making travel across the continent more accessible and convenient. 

    The new service is expected to drive regional trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

    Majekodunmi stated : “We are excited to expand our network to the West African coast and offer direct flight services to Gambia. ValueJet remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and convenient air travel across West Africa and this new service is a testament to that commitment.”

  • ValueJet, NFF partnership for  Super Eagles excites Majekodunmi

    ValueJet, NFF partnership for  Super Eagles excites Majekodunmi

    The Chief Executive Officer/ Accountable Manager of ValueJet, Capt. Omololu Majekodunmi.  is excited over the Super Eagles’ victory  over  the Amavubi of Rwanda, stating that the partnership between his airline and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) marks their first win since ValueJet signed on as their official airline partner.

    The victory according to Majekodunmi  symbolizing a fresh era of success for the team. The partnership between ValueJet and the Super Eagles was announced with the goal of providing seamless travel solutions and unwavering support to the national team.

     With this first victory under their belt, the synergy between both brands, according to Majekodunmi,  is already proving to be a winning formula. 

    Read Also: NFF excited  over choice of  Value Jet as Official Airline  

    “At ValueJet, we believe in lifting Nigerian excellence to greater heights—whether in the skies or on the field. Seeing the Super Eagles soar to victory after our partnership is a testament to the power of great collaboration. We are proud to be their official airline partner and look forward to many more wins ahead,”  Majekodunmi said .“This win sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting journey for the Super Eagles, with ValueJet backing them every step of the way. As the team continues to push for greatness, ValueJet remains committed to ensuring their travels are as smooth as their victories.

    The  Nigeria Football has a storied history and a passionate fan base just as the carrier according to Majekodunmi,  intend to bring fresh energy to the game and provide seamless travel solutions for our National Teams as they compete at home and abroad.

    “This partnership with the NFF underscores our commitment, as an institution, to keep supporting sports development in Nigeria, as it features a range of collaborative efforts designed to promote the game’s growth across the country, from grass programs to high-profile matches.”

  • ValueJet to open Lagos-Jos route

    ValueJet to open Lagos-Jos route

    As part of efforts to consolidate its operations , Value Jets Airlines has concluded plans  to commence  services into Jos, the Plateau State Capital, effective April 2, 2025.

    With the proposed operations, passengers now have options of direct flight into the new destination.

    Besides, the new service into Jos, the carrier said it is strategising to open up other routes.

    According to a statement by the airline, the Jos flight operations will be thrice weekly , with plans to make it a daily service as the operations expands.

    Checks by The Nation reveal that it is not the first time ValueJet would be operating to Jos.

    The airline had on October 10, 2022, launched its inaugural flight and in February 2023 began flight services to Jos, Plateau State from Abuja.

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    After being starved of flight services to Jos by many airlines, the Plateau State Government felt there was a need to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the carrier to ensure it sustains its operations on the route and to save passengers the huge risk of travelling by road from Plateau State to Abuja and beyond.

    The signing of the MoU took place at ValueJet’s head office in Lagos. Omololu Majekodunmi, the Managing Director of ValueJet, signed for the airline, and Jatau Davou Gyang, the Commissioner of Transportation who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang signed on behalf of the Plateau State government.

    Gyang said at the time that the initiative was very critical to the development of the state, adding that event marked a significant milestone in the quest of Governor Mutfwang’s administration to open up the economy of the state in line with his policy thrust.

    Majekodunmi on his part said the essence of the air pact was to tie, guarantee, and actually put in place legally air transport business between both parties which was further necessitated by insecurity on the road.

    His words, “The governor, since he was sworn in, he had driven to Abuja from Jos more than 25 times. This applies to all the commissioners. It is either you take a 35 minutes flight or you take a five-hour trip by road with hoodlums and insecurity on the roads.