The SAIL Empowerment Foundation, an initiative by Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru and his wife, Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, is proudly sponsoring Africa’s first Mixed Team Table Tennis Open Championships in Lagos. This event is a significant part of the Foundation’s youth empowerment program.
The tournament will be held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, from October 31 to November 2, 2024. Teams from Nigeria and beyond are expected to compete in this three-day event, which features a prize pool of N4 million.
Organized under the auspices of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle. At least 16 teams will participate, with each mixed team comprising two to three players of each gender.
Tournament Director Adesoji Tayo emphasized the open nature of the event, noting significant interest from teams in Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic.
“We are thrilled to be the first country to host a Mixed Team tournament in Africa. This demonstrates our leadership on the continent. The support from SAIL Empowerment Foundation highlights the popularity of table tennis and the dedication of the organizing team.
“We are grateful that our sport is attracting more supporters outside the sports industry, thanks to the involvement of SAIL Empowerment Foundation. We anticipate an exciting event based on the feedback from teams and players. This is another step in empowering our youth and engaging them in meaningful sporting activities. We look forward to an explosive event and hope to discover new talents like Quadri Aruna,” Tayo said.
Deji Abisola, the Chief Impact Officer of SAIL Empowerment Foundation, added, “We are focused on human capital development and have been very active in the education and tech talent development sectors through SAIL Innovation Lab. We are also committed to developing our youth in sports by identifying and nurturing talents to achieve global recognition. We are delighted to sponsor the 1st Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championship in Africa and remain dedicated to the development of our youth.”
