Folusho Alade, Abuja
The President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation NTTF, Engineer Ishaku Tikon has said the cardinal point of his federation is to discover hidden talents, nurture them and kit them.
Speaking to sports journalists in Abuja at the unveiling and kits presentation ceremony to junior international and World Junior champion , Usman Okanlawon, the NTTF President said Okanlawon has distinguished himself in various championships within and outside Nigeria.
Ishaku said the unveiling and kitting event is significant to the Table Tennis Federation because it is in line with the mandate of the NTTF which is to discover, nurture and kit hidden talents and also because it is taking place in the center of the country, Abuja, which would serve as a wakeup call to young players in the Northern part of the country to see how they can catch up with their colleagues in other parts of the country especially the South-West.
Speaking further, Enginneer Tikon said the unveiling of the young Okanlawon is also in line with the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare’s vision to resuscitate grassroots sports in every facet like what he is doing with the rejuvenated Principal’s cup.
When asked about the preparation of the country’s Table Tennis team for the forthcoming Tokyo Olympic Games, Tikon said he is happy all his able players are ready for the Games while the Para athletes have picked up six qualification slots so far and would likely pick up three more slots in the last qualifier billed for Slovenia very soon.
Also speaking at the event, CEO of Hoffnung Sports Foundation, one of the organizers of the event and representative of Victor Europe GmbH, makers and suppliers of Butterfly Sporting equipment, Adedapo Adedeji Akiode said his dream is to take grassroots sports to the next level.
Akiode who started Hoffnung Sports Foundation about eight years ago said Nigerians should be expecting the best in grassroots sports development just like it is being done in the Western world.
According to him some of the athletes his organisation have discovered and nurtured to stardom in the past include Tunde Bankole, a current national Badminton player and Ojo Onaolapo a bronze winner in Table Tennis at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Another partner and CEO of Aqua Gardens, Honourable Ahmed Khamisu, a business man and former House of Representatives member from Gombe State said the choice of Usman Okanlawon is a testament to the Unity of Nigeria and the desire of his organisation and partners to support and nurture talents from any part of the country irrespective of ethnic or religious background.
The star of the event and Nigeria number one U-14 Table Tennis champion and number two U-17 champions, Usman Okanlawon said he is happy to be honoured with the kits presentation while promising to remain focus and improve on his game.
The ITTF World Hope Table Tennis Champion(Oman 2019) and Africa’s number two U-12 Champion who said he is looking forward to the National Sports Festival billed for Benin City, Edo State also used the occasion to advise other children to imbibe the spirit of discipline and focus in order to achieve any form of success in their chosen sports.
The event was witnessed by dignitaries from all walks of life including representatives of the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
