The Babcock University community is buzzing with excitement following the generous donation of a brand-new table tennis hall by Adesoji Tayo, the Vice President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).
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Students and staff gathered in anticipation as the facility was commissioned by Prof Michael Omolewa, the former Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, in the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including the university’s top management staff led by Prof Ademola Tayo, the President/Vice-Chancellor.
The commissioning ceremony was a momentous occasion, with Prof Michael Omolewa expressing his admiration for the hall’s potential impact on humanity.
He commended Adesoji Tayo’s magnanimity in constructing the structure, which aligns with the United Nations’ vision of promoting youth engagement through healthy sports rivalries.
The Executive Vice President of ITTF, Wahid Oshodi, who is a former president of NTTF, also praised the state-of-the-art facility, emphasizing its significance as a training camp for top players in Nigeria.
He highlighted the potential of the hall to groom young talents and prepare them for major international tournaments. Oshodi expressed gratitude to Dr. Adesoji Tayo and his family for their exceptional investment in table tennis, especially during challenging times.
In his remarks, the donor, Adesoji Tayo, shared his vision for the facility, stating that it aimed to help young athletes realize their full potential.
He emphasized that the impact would extend beyond Nigeria, with aspirations to develop the game of table tennis across Africa.
The hall provides an ideal environment for young players to immerse themselves in the sport and undergo intensive training, allowing them to elevate their skills and compete at the global level.
Tayo underscored the unique advantages of the Babcock University location, describing it as a conducive and enclosed environment, ideal for nurturing talents.
With players able to concentrate on learning the game for extended periods, he expressed confidence that this state-of-the-art facility would contribute to Nigeria’s table tennis dominance on the world stage.
The Babcock University table tennis hall stands as a symbol of passion and dedication to the sport, serving as a platform for nurturing young talents and elevating the level of table tennis in Nigeria.
The donation by Adesoji Tayo, the NTTF Vice President, exemplifies the transformative impact that can be achieved when sports enthusiasts and philanthropists come together to invest in the future of sports development.
As the university community and the broader table tennis fraternity celebrate this milestone, they eagerly await the positive impact this facility will have on aspiring players and the sport’s growth across the continent.
