All is set for the maiden edition of the “Erelu Ngozi Adeleke” Table Tennis Championship for Female Secondary School Students in Osun State.
The table tennis championship is organised by SportsGig International, an outfit which deals with sporting events and athletes, in conjunction with the Osun State Table Tennis Association and other relevant bodies which includes the Osun Sports Council, Ministry of Education and Sports.
The competition is aimed at encouraging the girl child participation in sports, which is an avenue for them to express themselves and harness their talents, thereby empowering them to succeed in sports and beyond.
The theme of the event is “Let The Girls Play”, which supports the competition’s strategic ambition to give young girls equal access to participate in sports and stay away from societal vices.
Briefing newsmen in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State on thursday, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SportsGig International, Olayinka Olawole, stated that over 20 Schools have submitted names of participants for the event, which will kickoff on Tuesday, the 28th of May 2024, at the Ultra Modern, Micheal and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Hall, Osogbo.
“For us at SportsGig International, we are all about getting people more involved in every aspect of Sports. He said.
“This campaign is one that’s very close to my heart, and something I am extremely passionate about, when it comes to providing a conducive environment for young people, especially girls to participate in Sports.
“We know and understand that girls are not well encouraged to participate in sporting activities, reason this Table Tennis Championship is themed “Let The Girls Play”.
“The table tennis championship is statewide and also an avenue to drive the agenda of her Excellency, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke commitment to building a better life for the girl child in the state and beyond.
“We really want to appreciate Her Excellency, Wife of the Governor of Osun State, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke for using her good office to create a welcoming environment for girls involvement in Sports, thereby developing their confidence, self esteem and a sense of accomplishment. In the next few days, we shall be rolling out, names of sponsors for this competition. ” He Concluded.
On his own part, Co-founder and Chief Operating Manager of SportsGig International, Ibrahim Akinokun reiterated the importance of girl child participation in sports and also the main reason behind the organization of the competition.
“The prevailing societal propensity is to snigger at the cardinality of the girl-child involvement in sports. This has morphed into a stereotype that has to be changed. Female athletes have brought more glory to Nigeria in international sporting arena, despite the headwind of encumbrances they often have to charge through.”
“We cannot obscure the reality that, Nigeria’s hitherto dominance of the African female table tennis landscape has waned owing to an acute dearth of young female talents to take over the baton from the veterans. It is therefore wholly within the bounds of reason the necessity to create a platform for female talent discovery and harnessing”.
“On this forthcoming championship, we are standing on the shoulders of giants, and our enthusiasm of a desired outcome of it is the sea of stars. All the pieces are sliding into place and we harbour skyscraping hope that the inaugural edition of the Erelu Ngozi Adeleke Table Tennis Championship For Female Secondary School Students will turn out a resounding success”. He Concluded.
Also speaking ahead of the event, the company’s head of marketing, Mrs Tawakalitu Adeoye has promised maximum fun and excitement as never seen before. Logistics head, Ms. Tomiwa Oyekanmi assured SportsGIg International preparedness to provide an enabling environment for an healthy competition amongst the participating schools and students.
However, fixtures for the tournament was rolled out in the press conference.
Fatimo Kazeem of St. James Grammar School, Osogbo, will tackle Martha Oluwatukesi of Osogbo Grammar School in the opening game of the competition by 9:30am, while Zainab Omotosho of Baptist Girls High School Osogbo, will battle Ifabiyi Azeezat of St. James Grammar School, Osogbo, by 11am.
In the last game of the opening day, Olanipekun Titomi of Amazing Secondary School will play against Nafisat Abdulazeez of Osogbo Grammar School.
St. Anthony Catholic Grammar School Iwo, Baptist Grammar School, Ode-Omu, Oba Laoye Grammar School, Ede, Adventist Grammar School, Ede, St. David Grammar School, Lagere, Ile-Ife, Origbo Anglican Grammar School, Moro, NUD Grammar School, Osogbo, Unity Girls School, Osogbo, Ansar-Udeen Grammar School, Osogbo are the other participating schools in the tournament.
