Nigeria Tennis Federation to Introduce Junior Events at All National Tournaments

Posted : 13 July 2025

In a significant move to boost grassroots tennis development, the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has revealed plans to include junior events in all major national tournaments. This initiative is aimed at identifying and nurturing young talent while enhancing the sport’s overall growth in Nigeria.

NTF President, Ifedayo Akindoju, made the announcement on Saturday in Abuja during the closing ceremony of the VEMP National Open Tennis Championship. He emphasized the importance of creating platforms for young players to gain competitive experience early in their careers.

“This initiative will not only provide young players the opportunity to showcase their skills but also offer a more cost-effective model for the federation,” Akindoju explained.

“It will give our youth the exposure and experience they need to grow in the sport.”

He further stated that the proposal would soon be submitted to the federation’s board to be formalized as official policy.

“I want every national tournament hosted by the federation to have a junior category attached to it,” he added. “It’s more economical and beneficial to run both categories simultaneously rather than organizing separate events.”

Akindoju expressed his satisfaction with the recently concluded tournament, highlighting the high quality of play, particularly the men’s singles final where Daniel Adeleye defeated Lucky Danjuma 7-6, 6-2. He praised both players for their impressive performances and noted that Danjuma, in particular, has significant potential.

“We’ve made great discoveries in this tournament. The standard of play was very high, and it’s encouraging to see such talent emerging,” he said.

Looking ahead, Akindoju expressed optimism about the future of Nigerian tennis. He noted that three major tournaments are lined up over the next few weeks, including the Davnotch National Tennis Open Championship (July 14–19) and the CBN Tennis Open, both scheduled to take place at the Tennis Centre, Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

“These tournaments are national ranking events designed to evaluate and expose emerging talents across the country,” he said.

Akindoju also emphasized that the ultimate goal is to select the best players to represent Nigeria in key international competitions, including the Billie Jean King Cup in Namibia (Aug. 4) and the Africa Group III Davis Cup in Zimbabwe (Aug. 11).

The integration of junior categories into national tournaments is viewed as a strategic and timely step in developing the next generation of Nigerian tennis champions.

Nigeria Tennis Federation to Introduce Junior Events at All National Tournaments

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