Abia State has commenced its inaugural South-East Tennis Championship at the historic Aba Sports Club 1926, with a call on young athletes to combine sporting excellence with education and vocational skills to secure a sustainable future.
The four-day championship, which runs from October 27 to 30, 2026, was officially declared open by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadimma Ananaba, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Pst. Mrs. Jane Maxwell Igwe.
In his address, the commissioner urged participating athletes to demonstrate discipline, determination and respect for their opponents while striving for excellence throughout the competition.
He disclosed that the introduction of sports-related courses at Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, formed part of the Abia State Government’s efforts to expand opportunities for young people and equip athletes with alternative career paths beyond active sporting competition.
Also speaking, the Patron of the Abia State Tennis Association and former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Uchechukwu Samson Ogah, represented by Mr. Ugochukwu Nwoha, advised young athletes to combine their sporting careers with education or vocational training to prepare for life after retirement from competitive sports.
Ogah commended Governor Alex Otti for prioritising sports development in the state and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the growth of tennis in Abia.
He noted that sports remained a major interest among young people and emphasised the need for sustained investment and support to develop tennis and other sporting disciplines.
In his remarks, the Director of Sports in Abia State, Comrade Obioma George, represented by the Secretary of the Abia State Sports Council, Comrade Jerry Basil Ude, expressed satisfaction with the growing profile of sports in the state.
He observed that Abia had continued to host competitions across various sporting disciplines, strengthening its position as a destination for sporting activities within the South-East and beyond.
The championship is expected to provide opportunities to identify emerging tennis talents and nurture them for future state and national competitions.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Captain Eric Asomugha, alongside other dignitaries and officials of the ministry.
The competition marks a new chapter in Abia’s efforts to promote tennis, encourage youth participation in sports and create pathways for aspiring athletes to excel at higher levels.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
