Ondo first lady set to launch massive grassroot tennis project

The First Lady of Ondo State, Arabirin Betty Anyawu Akeredolu in patnership with Nigeria Tennis great, Nduka Odizor is set to launch a massive Grassroot Tennis Project in the Sunshine State.

Arabirin Akeredolu said this while speaking with newsmen  on Monday in Akure, after a closed door meeting with Odizor and other stakeholders.

She revealed that the project was aimed at discovering future tennis champions in the State and make Ondo State tennis hub in Nigeria.

“‘I am so excited, when the idea of promoting tennis in Ondo State occurred to me I didn’t know that masquerade (Odizor) will be interested. You can’t take away the love Odizor has for his country and I am going to work on this opportunity.” – Mrs Akeredolu Stated

“The children should consider it done already, they will be champions sooner than later. It is my utmost wish that Ondo State will become a tennis hub. The project is not going to be just a flash in the pan we will sustain it, trust me.” She added.

Mrs Akeredolu revealed the programme is scheduled for the long summer vacation.

On his part, Nduka Odizor expressed his readiness to always give back to Nigeria by promoting tennis in the country and revealed the enthusiasm of the First Lady gave him no doubt in choosing to work in Ondo State this time around.

The Olympian stated: “When my colleague here, Jide Fasekun and Mary Oyali expressed what the First Lady want I have no iota of doubt in it. The tennis project she embarked on at the recreational club Ibadan helped get two people to the US on scholarship and one of them have a daughter is the best tennis player in Houston at the moment.”

“I also choosed Ondo State to pay back the help I got from some people in the state, particularly the Olagbegis. In the past I invested about 90 million Naira wrongly into Nigeria tennis. The template for the project is to focus and groom young talent from Ondo State alone and help them sharpen their skill to take on any tennis challenge in the future.” Odizor stressed.

While reacting, a major facilitator of the partnership, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who is the chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the Ondo State Football Agency, posited that getting Mr Odizor on board will no doubt help promote the project.

Elegbeleye who is the Otunba of Ikare land expressed his readiness to always promote sports in Ondo State and in Nigeria as a top and vastly experienced sports administrator.

The former DG, NSC noted: “I am always ready to promote sports here in Ondo State and in Nigeria at large though I am not interested in any appointment at the state level I am still willing to contribute to development of sports through recommendations and advices as someone that has operated at the top level of sports mangement in the country.”

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Elegbeleye also maintained that sports can be used to bring about development and serve as a means of income for self sustainable if taken seriously and well managed.

Former Nigeria track queen Mary Oyali was also present at the meeting at the First Lady’s office, Government House Akure.