Table tennis development in South-West Nigeria has received a massive boost after the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and Chairman of the Oyo State Table Tennis Association, Dr. Adesoji Tayo, officially handed over a multi-million-naira, fully equipped table tennis hall to the Oyo State Government.
The state-of-the-art facility, located at the iconic Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, was officially commissioned to provide local athletes with a world-class training environment that meets international competitive standards. Outfitted with four world-class competition tables and specialized high-durability sports flooring guaranteed to remain top-tier for a decade, the new arena represents a milestone for grassroots sports development across the region.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Dr. Tayo emphasized that the project was driven by a desire to leave a lasting legacy for upcoming generations. “It is not about infrastructure to me, but about the legacy one is leaving behind,” Tayo declared, expressing confidence that the arena will serve as the breeding ground to nurture future global stars capable of following in the footsteps of African table tennis legend Quadri Aruna.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the state, Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, expressed immense gratitude to the NTTF chief, assuring that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration will religiously maintain the facility to ensure local talent reaches podium finishes on both national and international stages. With modern infrastructure now open to Ibadan’s rising stars, the stage is set for a vibrant rebirth of table tennis excellence.
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