" ITREALMS: NCC reiterates sponsorship support for Tennis Tournament

Monday, November 02, 2015

NCC reiterates sponsorship support for Tennis Tournament



The Acting Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has said reiterated sponsorship support for the just concluded Tennis Tournament, reports ITRealms.


.
Danbatta in a press statement made available to ITRealms by the Head, Media at NCC, Mr. Sonny Aragba-Akpore, the EVC was quoted as declaring the Commission “will continue to sponsor this tournament.”

Speaking at the National Stadium, Abuja, venue of the second Semi- final of the Tennis National Tournament at the weekend, he said, NCC would also review the prize money upward to ensure that as many teams are attracted from different parts of the country.

A visibly excited Danbatta who went down memory lane said, he remembered with nostalgia the escapades of Nigeria’s Nduka Odizor who reached the round of 16 in the Wimbledon of 1983.

To Danbatta, Odizor was easily one of the global Tennis greats at the time but sadly “Nigerian players have not made the desired impact in global Tennis circuits since then.”
He noted that Nigerians nowadays witness how tennis stars have brought fame and fortune to themselves and their nations, hence NCC wanted to be identified with by taking these talented players in Nigeria to the circuit.

He told the audience at the stadium including, President, Nigeria Tennis Federation, Mr. Sani Ndanusa, President, International Tennis Academy, Mr. Godwin Kienka among others that the main objective of the NCC sponsorship of the tournament is to raise the level of Lawn Tennis which is one of the most popular and lucrative sporting activity.

“Part of our objective is to help in nurturing and exposing these talents through robust competition so as to help them perfect their skills. It is also promoting peace and friendship among the players as this has taken the game to various locations of the country where such competitions have not been held. So far, several matches have been played in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Onitsha, Abeokuta, Kaduna, Abuja, and Enugu, with the finals scheduled for Lagos. Another objective of this tournament is so fruitfully engage the players, officials and the youth in some value-driven activities associated with this competition.”

Danbatta said the NCC is glad that most of the objectives of this project have been realized. 

“We understand that most of the best Nigerian players are featuring in this year’s edition, which has made the quality of the competition to be very high. The cross section of the people that matter in Nigerian Lawn Tennis sport have honoured us with their presence in some of the tournaments, including Nduka Odizor that I spoke about. We are happy the way the tournament has been organized as shown by the huge turnout at this second semifinal.”

“This is the maiden edition of this tournament, and we are very happy the way the Commission’s gesture has been received since this league tennis was launched on May 23, 2015. We are proud to have added a new version of competition that has energized activities in the Nigerian lawn tennis calendar.

The first Semi-final held in Enugu last week and the winners of the Enugu Semi- final and the Abuja Semi-final will meet at the final in Lagos on December 4 and 5, 2015.
 
+ITRealms DSA  

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

No comments:

Featured post @ITREALMS

NDSF@15: Ojo, Adebayo, Nnamani, Ekuwem, Nwannenna, Odusote join DigitalSENSE Hall of Fame - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news! The Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Mr. Edetaen Ojo alongside the chairman,...