Boma Iyaye (right) receiving table tennis souvenirs from Dr Adesoji Tayo
Caption: Boma Iyaye (right) receiving table tennis souvenirs from Dr Adesoji Tayo
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has announced that the National Top 16 Table Tennis Championship will take place in Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo local government area of Rivers State, from December 11-14, 2026, in a move aimed at expanding the sport’s popularity and developing talents in the South-South region.
The championship, which is being sponsored by the Fifika Chiri Foundation, according to the President of the NTTF, Dr Adesoji Tayo, would mark the beginning of a sustained effort to promote table tennis beyond its traditional stronghold in the South-West and establish the South-South as a major centre for the sport.
Tayo spoke during a visit to Ogu community, where he inspected facilities for the proposed competition and commended the President of Fifika Chiri Foundation, Alabo Boma Iyaye, for supporting the development of table tennis.
He described table tennis as a sport for everyone, irrespective of age, saying its benefits extended beyond competitive sports to recreation, physical fitness and healthy living.
“Table tennis is a game for all, and it is a game that can be played even till old age,” he said.
According to him, the sport could be played competitively, recreationally and as a means of livelihood, adding that it offered opportunities for young people to develop their talents and become internationally recognised athletes.
“Coming to Rivers State is not just to talk about competition; it is to talk about table tennis and how table tennis can help us to live a good daily life,” Tayo said.
The NTTF president expressed satisfaction with the facilities inspected in Ogu, describing the proposed venue as suitable for the championship.
“I’m happy that a beautiful edifice could be here. It’s good for the competition,” he said.
He also pledged the federation’s support in providing the necessary professional equipment and technical requirements for the event, including competition tables and other materials.
Tayo disclosed that the federation would facilitate the participation of the country’s top 16 male and female players, who would converge on Ogu to showcase their skills.
“We’ll bring them, we’ll facilitate the process of ensuring that they come. We will provide all the professional kits that they will require,” he said.
Speaking while hosting the NTTF president during a courtesy visit in Ogu, Alabo Boma Iyaye, who is also the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said his passion for table tennis was rooted in his childhood experiences and longstanding involvement in sports.
“Growing up in Port Harcourt, we all played table tennis. You cannot grow up in Port Harcourt and not play table tennis,” he said.
Iyaye said he subsequently decided to revive interest in the sport in his community by organising a local Christmas table tennis competition, which later expanded to attract players from across Rivers State.
He said the competition, which had been sustained for several years, inspired him to seek a national-level event for Ogu.
“At the local level, we started, and then we transcended to the state level. We have state players that come in here every Christmas to play table tennis. But this year, I said, ‘Can’t we make it a national competition?'” he said.
The foundation president described the decision to bring the National Top 16 Championship to Ogu as a major achievement for the community and Rivers State.
“I want to specially thank you for accepting to come, not only to Rivers State, but to Ogu, to host the National Top 16. That is a major feat,” he said.
He assured the federation that the community would provide the necessary facilities and logistical support to ensure a successful competition.
