Stakeholders in Nigerian table tennis has asked for increased sponsorship of the sport, at the grassroots,in the country to enable young talents compete globally and develop the country’s generation of future champions.
Offiong Edem made the call while answering reportere questions at the just-concluded sixth edition of the Offiong Edem Table Tennis Championship in Calabar.
About 120 teenage players were drawn from states across the south-South and South-East that participated in the three-day competition.
The Seven-time Nigerian champion and six-time African champion, Edem, who represented Nigeria at five Olympic Games, including the Paris 2024 Olympics, said inadequate funding remained one of the major obstacles confronting the development of young table tennis players.
Offiong Edem, who sponsored the tournament for six consecutive years, said her continued investment in the competition was driven by her passion for the sport and desire to give back to society by creating opportunities for talented children.
According to the champion , many Nigerian players were unable to travel abroad for competitions, leaving them at a disadvantage against their peers who have access to better funding, equipment and exposure.
Appealed to corporate organisations to invest in table tennis, stated that young players needed international exposure to understand the standards of the game and compete effectively at the global level.
Offiong further said her dream was to transform the competition into an annual national event through which talented Nigerian children could launch their careers, adding that the seventh edition next year would hopefully attract participants from across the country and feature bigger prize money, while remaining in Calabar.
Speaking also the Former Chairman of Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Anthony Akan, commended Edem for sustaining the tournament and discovering young talents, urging other successful individuals to emulate her by investing in the development of upcoming athletes.
Also, Mfon Ekpo, proprietor of a table tennis academy in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, described the sponsorship as the major challenge facing the sport, activities calls on successful players, corporate organisations, government other stakeholders to support its development.
Ekpo noted the tournament had demonstrated that Nigeria was blessed with talented young players capable of making a mark internationally if given the necessary support and exposure.
The championship which ended penultimate Saturday 15 August 2026, featured junior and senior boys and girls categories, including Under-13 and Under-15 winners smile home with medals and cash prizes ranging from N30,000 to N100,000 and above.
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