The SAIL Empowerment Foundation, led by Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru and his wife, Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, is sponsoring Africa’s first-ever Mixed Team Table Tennis Championship in Lagos.
This groundbreaking event, aimed at empowering youth through sports, will take place from October 31 to November 2, 2024, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
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With a prize pool of N4 million, the tournament is expected to attract at least 16 mixed teams, each featuring two to three players of both genders. Teams from Nigeria, as well as neighboring countries like Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic, have already shown interest in participating.
Organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the championship is set to be a thrilling three-day event. Tournament Director Adesoji Tayo highlighted its importance, stating, “We are excited to host Africa’s first Mixed Team tournament. This reflects Nigeria’s leadership in sports on the continent. The support from SAIL Empowerment Foundation underscores the growing popularity of table tennis in Nigeria.”
Tayo also expressed hope for discovering new talents, saying, “We expect an explosive event and hope to find talents like Quadri Aruna.”
Deji Abisola, Chief Impact Officer of SAIL Empowerment Foundation, emphasized the organization’s commitment to youth development. “We’ve been active in education and tech through our SAIL Innovation Lab. Now, we are expanding into sports, and we are thrilled to sponsor this championship as part of our mission to nurture young talents.”
The Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championship marks a significant step in promoting sports and youth engagement in Nigeria, with organizers anticipating a highly competitive and exciting tournament.
