The maiden Prince Olayiwola Shittu Table Tennis Tournament, aimed at fostering unity among maritime workers began on Saturday in Lagos.

The sponsor, Olayiwola Shittu, Chairman, National Association of Licensed Customs Agents (NALCA), said the competition would be used to engender healthy relationship among the workers.

Shittu told Tidesports that the one-day championship would hence forth be held annually to bridge the gap between State Agencies and NALCA.

“The incessant friction between NALCA members and the Federal Government Agencies at the ports necessitated my instituting this competition.

“It is to create an avenue outside the office setting for the actors in the maritime industry to relax and deliberate on issues of mutual benefit,” he said.

Handing over the competition’s trophy to the General Manager (Administration) Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Michael Ajayi, the NALCA chairman said only registered maritime workers would participate in the championship.

In his response, Ajayi thanked the sponsor for his ingenuity in human capital management and promised to manage the competition to an enviable height.

Apart from the trophy which would be given to the event’s winner, the amount of cash reward to be given to the athletes had yet to be decided.