By Ado Salisu
The Vice President of the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF), Malam Yusuf Datti, has commended Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas for hosting the maiden edition of the Dr Agbu Kefas North-East Zonal Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17 Junior Tennis Championship, describing the initiative as a major step towards reviving grassroots tennis development.
Datti gave the commendation at the closing ceremony of the championship held in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
He praised Governor Kefas for his passion, foresight and commitment to laying a solid foundation for the development of sports, particularly tennis, across the state.
According to him, the championship aligns with the vision of the current NTF board, led by Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, to establish a sustainable and data-driven foundation for the growth of tennis in Nigeria.
“What has been achieved here is consistent with the core philosophy of the current board of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, which is to establish a strong, sustainable and data-driven foundation for the growth and development of tennis in Nigeria.
“No nation attains sporting excellence by chance. Excellence is deliberately cultivated through structure, continuity, talent discovery and unwavering institutional commitment,” he said.
He added that by organising competitions for the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17 categories, Taraba State and the NTF were not only hosting a tournament but also building a pipeline of future champions capable of representing Nigeria with distinction.
Datti called on governments, sports administrators, corporate organisations, philanthropists, coaches, parents and other stakeholders to support the federation’s ongoing reform and development agenda.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s recent achievements on the international stage, noting that the country’s men’s team secured promotion in the Davis Cup Group II after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in the playoffs held in February this year.
He added that the women’s national team also made history by defeating hosts Botswana 2-1 to earn their first-ever promotion to the Billie Jean King Cup Europe/Africa Group II.
“These accomplishments are not only worthy of celebration; they remind us that when vision is matched with discipline, preparation and support, progress becomes inevitable,” he said.
The NTF vice president congratulated the winners and encouraged other participants to work harder ahead of future competitions.
He also commended Governor Kefas for sponsoring the championship and appreciated the coaches, referees, tournament officials and organisers for their contributions to its success.
In his remarks, Governor Kefas reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for athletes and coaches to enhance sports development in the state.
The event featured the presentation of certificates, trophies and souvenirs to outstanding players, officials and coaches.
