Sports
NCC To Increase Tennis League’s Prize Money
The Executive Vice-
Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the commission had planned to increase the prize-money for its sponsored lawn tennis championship.
Danbatta disclosed this in a statement obtained by The Tide source in Lagos at the weekend.
The Tide source gathered that the telecoms regulatory body earmarked N11 million for the maiden edition of the championship which started on May24 and ended on December 5.
The statement said that the first four-winners of this edition of the league went home with N5 million, N3 million, N2 million and N1 million respectively.
It stated that the planned review of the money was to encourage more clubs to participate in the next edition of NCC Lawn Tennis Cup.
According to the statement, it is hoped the increase in the prize will encourage more individuals, corporate bodies and institutions to raise teams to compete.
‘’We also plan to provide other reward schemes for outstanding players in the tournament to encourage them to strive harder in singles and doubles performances.
‘’We sincerely believe that our young men and women are capable of becoming world champions in this game since the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.
‘’Competitions expose the players and ensure that they practise more and play more.
‘’The NCC Tennis Cup provides players an opportunity to express themselves and prepares them for other competitions, as we have seen in this maiden edition,’’ it said.
It stated that the commission’s objective for the sponsorship of the league was to take tennis to all parts of the country and to locations which had never witnessed standard tennis competitions before.
‘’As a corporate social investment, we have profound understanding that these sports have unifying potentials for Nigerian sports men and women from various parts of the country.
“It is also known that more activities in this sport will bring additional value to the list of sports where Nigerians can excel beyond our shores.
‘’We have witnessed this edition and have seen that a lot of our players have standards, as high as those we have seen in the international circuit.
‘’We were told that no Nigerian has been able to reach the stage achieved by Nduka Odizor because of lack of support and sponsorships,’’ it said.
It would be recalled that Odizor reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
The statement added that it was hoped that through NCC’s support, the recognition of the Lagos State Government and other corporate bodies, players would surpass the feat in near future.
Reports say that Team Tombim won the maiden NCC Tennis Cup, after it defeated the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Tombin got the sum of N5 million, the NSCDC received N3 million, Team Kalotari which came third got N2 million and Team Ogun that came fourth went away with N1 million.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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