President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to revitalising Nigerian tennis through sustained reforms, expanded competitions and strategic investments designed to produce players capable of excelling on the international stage.
Ochei made the pledge at the grand finale of the sixth DAVNOTCH National Open Tennis Championship, held at the newly renamed Ifedayo Akindoju Tennis Courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
He said the NTF would continue to work closely with private sector partners, including DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited, to expand the domestic tournament calendar, giving players more opportunities to earn ranking points and compete regularly at a high level.
The NTF president praised the quality of tennis displayed throughout the six-day championship, describing it as further proof of the abundance of talent in the country.
He urged players to remain disciplined, dedicated and focused on continuous improvement, assuring them that the Federation would continue to implement reforms aimed at strengthening the nation’s tennis structure.
The championship concluded with two thrilling singles finals as Abubakar Yusuf and Success Ogunjobi emerged men’s and women’s champions respectively after impressive comeback victories.
Yusuf produced a remarkable fightback to dethrone Nigeria’s top-ranked player, Canice Abua, recovering from two sets down to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
In the women’s final, defending champion Success Ogunjobi also showed great resilience, overturning a one-set deficit to beat Nigeria’s number one female player, Itoro Bassey, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 and successfully defend her title.
Andrea Usoh completed the list of champions by claiming the women’s wheelchair singles title, highlighting the championship’s commitment to promoting inclusivity while showcasing talent across multiple categories.
In a further boost for the development of the sport, the Managing Director of DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited announced an increase in the tournament’s prize money.
Yusuf received ₦1 million for winning the men’s singles title, while Ogunjobi earned ₦800,000 as women’s champion, reflecting the company’s growing investment in Nigerian tennis.
The DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited boss commended the players for their determination, discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition and reiterated the company’s long-term commitment to supporting the growth of tennis and nurturing future champions.
Organised by DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited in collaboration with the Nigeria Tennis Federation, the championship once again demonstrated the value of public-private partnerships in developing Nigerian sport and creating pathways for players to compete successfully at both national and international levels.
