In a spirited move to bolster grassroots tennis development in Nigeria, the Tennista Foundation successfully staged its inaugural junior tennis championship at Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba, Lagos. The four-day tournament, which commenced on Wednesday and concluded on Saturday, witnessed a vibrant display of talent with over 110 young players—55 boys and 55 girls—competing in the Under-16 category.
This maiden edition marks the foundation’s strategic entry into youth sports development, with a focus on identifying and nurturing future tennis stars. The competition, played on hard courts, attracted wide attention from stakeholders in Nigeria’s tennis ecosystem and has been described as a major leap toward repositioning junior tennis in the country.
President of the Tennista Foundation, Michael Nwoseh, expressed his delight at the turnout and level of participation. According to him, the initiative is the foundation’s contribution to the long-term growth of tennis in Nigeria, starting with Lagos State.
“It has been an exciting time for us. This tournament is our way of contributing to grassroots tennis development in Nigeria. We decided to kick-start this vision here in Lagos, and the support we’ve received from the Lagos State Sports Commission, the Lagos State Tennis Association, and other stakeholders has been encouraging,” Nwoseh said.
He reiterated that Tennista Foundation, as a non-profit organisation, relies on partnerships and donations to fund its activities, with every resource channelled towards giving young tennis enthusiasts the support they need to excel.
The Foundation’s Programs and Operations Manager, Folakemi Ayodele, noted that the competition was specifically targeted at children aged 8 to 16 who are already active in the sport. She revealed that the tournament is designed not just as a platform for competition but also as a developmental and motivational tool.
“All semi-finalists will be rewarded with trophies, bags, rackets, and other essential tennis equipment. Beyond the medals, we are awarding scholarships to top performers—N100,000 for the winners, N75,000 for the second-place finishers, and N50,000 for those who place third in both male and female categories,” Ayodele disclosed.
National tennis coach, Frank Tarmena, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful. He pointed out that private sector involvement is key to revitalising sports development in Nigeria.
“We’ve long called on individuals and corporate bodies to support grassroots sports. What Tennista Foundation has done here is commendable. This type of event not only sharpens the skills of these youngsters but also keeps them away from social vices and promotes job creation. The intensity of play has been remarkable, and I’ve seen top-tier talents here. We might just be witnessing the rise of future champions,” Tarmena remarked.
Adding to the sentiments, board member of the Tennista Foundation, Gabriel Fagbohun, highlighted the role of sports in educational and personal development. He emphasized the need for more organisations to key into sports-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
“We are promoting education through sports. Tennis is a lifelong sport that builds discipline, focus, and resilience. Our aim is to empower these young athletes with tools for success, both on and off the court. We urge more corporate entities to partner with us in this vision,” Fagbohun said.
Also present at the event was Toyin Ajayi, Secretary of the Lagos State Tennis Association, who affirmed the association’s support for the project and praised the foundation for creating a platform that merges competition with developmental benefits.
With its eyes set on national expansion, the Tennista Foundation plans to replicate this grassroots model across various states in Nigeria, with the overarching mission of building a strong pipeline of young talents that can compete at both national and international levels.
The success of the maiden edition in Lagos is already generating buzz within the local tennis community, setting a promising tone for future editions and further solidifying the Tennista Foundation’s role as a critical player in Nigeria’s sports development space.
