Quadri Seeks Corporate Nigeria’s Support

2014 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Player of the Year, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has appealed to corporate Nigerians to support his quest to improve his career after a successful outing in the previous year.

Quadri, who is the highest ranked African in the world, rated 30 by ITTF said he needs all the support he could get to remain on top of his game.

“I am using this platform to appeal to corporate bodies in the telecommunication and other companies to come to my aid especially for me to attend more competitions this year. I am looking forward to the Globacom, MTN, Airtel, Etisalat and Visafone’s of this world for me to continue to do what I love doing,” he said.

Aruna Quadri

He added: “I worked hard in 2014 using my resources and with support from the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi to get to where I am now in the world. But now that I have made my country proud, what I need is support for me to take part in more competitions so that I keep up the pace as well as be in top shape in readiness for the All Africa Games and Olympics.”

With prospect of doing well in major international competitions, Quadri believes with more backing from his home country, he can still do more that he has achieved in recent time.

For now, the ITTF Star player is targeting good outing at the forthcoming as he is at present tuning up for the tournament serving off this week in Cairo, Egypt.

“I don’t want to be distracted by the need to get sponsors to support me to feature in competitions as I am looking forward to a good outing in Egypt. I appreciate everybody that has been congratulating on the pages of newspapers as well on social media but what I need is support for me to play in more competitions this year,” he explained.

Alaafin, Umar For Ayoolopon Grand-Finale

(Ayoolopon Challenge) The winner of female game Mrs Moradeyo Funmilayo been presented with her gift. photo credit Olufemi Ajao

The stage is set for the grand finale of the maiden Ayoolopon Challenge Series and festival scheduled to hold in Oyo Town as the organisers have earmarked the sum of one million naira as price money for winners of the competition supported by the Mtn.

Eighteen winners have qualified for the grandfinale holding as from today till Friday at the KC Hotel and Agbalakooko Aafin of Alaafin of Oyo with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the commissioner for youth and sport, Farouk Umar Alao expected as the special guests of honour during the closing ceremony as well as chairmen of local governments in Oyo Town.

Femi Abioye, Chief executive officer, Dekaizen Worldwide Limited told pressmen that all necessary arrangements have been concluded to make the event a memorable one that will remain in memory of participants for a long time.

Abioye promised that a series of activities have been lined up to spice up the grand finale, he informed that the there will be the “Oyo Challenge” where winners will emerge before going into the final stage of the competition, adding that apart from the cash reward, there are other valuable prices to be won.

“”This event is aimed at promoting our cultural heritage and encourage the participation of the youths in what is known to be predominantly for elderly people.

Also,there will be crowning of the Oba Ota as the national champion.

Previously the Abekuta leg of the event was held at the NUT Multipurpose hall, while the Ile ife leg of the series was held at the Heritage multipurpose hall and produced nine winners each.

Ayoolopon Challenge Series: Adeoye, Moradeyo Pick Ile Ife Tickets As MTN Empowers Winners

Ayoolopon Challenge Series: Adeoye, Moradeyo Pick Ile Ife Tickets As MTN Empowers Winners.

Johnson Adeoye of Ife East Local government last weekend emerged the winner of the Ile Ife leg of the Ayoolopon for All Initiative Challenge Series beating Adesoji Adedire also of the same local government to the title thus qualifying for the grand finale in Oyo Town, Oyo State later this month.

(Ayoolopon Challenge) The winner of female game Mrs Moradeyo Funmilayo been presented with her gift. photo credit Olufemi Ajao

Funmilayo Moradeyo won the Women’s category, while Ayoranmi Toromade and Sadiat Olanrewaju finished second and third to pick the two remaining tickets available for the grand finale.

With this results the MTN Nigeria supported initiative now has 18 qualifiers from the Abeokuta and Ile Ife challenge series set for the finals from the 15th of this month in Oyo Town, Oyo State.

Speaking after the closing and prize presentation ceremony of the Challenge which got a Royal blessing with presence of Oba Folorunso Omisakin, the Obalufe of Iremo, ile Ife, Femi Abioye the coordinator of the project expressed delight over the turn out of participants and fans alike, adding that it could only get better.

Ayoolopon Challenge. The winner of the male game Mr Adeoye Johnson with his gift. photo credit Olufemi Ajao

Abioye also thanked the sponsors of the Ayoolopon initiative, MTN Nigeria for their support, urging other corporate organizations to emulate MTN by identifying with their immediate environment.

Also present at the closing ceremony where various empowering items were presented to the winners was the General Manager of Osun State Sports Council, Akin Adio and chief Tunde Akintilebo, chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ife central chapter amongst other dignitaries.

Ayedun Seun and Adedayo Ademola are the other qualifiers in the Male category, while the three day challenge also featured a special “teach the Kids class”.

Ayoolopon For All Initiative’s Abeokuta City Challenge Comes To A Close With Fanfare

The first in the series of ayoolopon city challenge initiated by dekaizen worldwide limited and supported by MTN came to a festive close with the top five players in male and top four players in the female category qualifying to take part in the grand finale & festival scheduled for october in Oyo town.

At the closing ceremony which took place on the 3rd day of the abeokuta challenge series under the chairmanship of the Honourable commissioner of sport and youth development, Ogun state who was represented by the Director of Sports, Adeshola Faleti and ably supported by his management staff.

Other dignitries who graced the last day of the challenge series include the chairman of National Union of Teachers,Ogun state Comrade Dare Ilekoya, the MD/CEO premium Sports Miss Nkechi Obi, Mrs. Edun, the iyalaje of Oba lipede ultra modern market Kuto, the chairman Traditional sports Association in the state and Mr Ifeanyi Otuya the Regional Trade Marketing Manager, representing MTN.

The first place prize in the male open challenge went to Akanbi Rasheed from Abeokuta North LGA while Aderonke Lawal from Abeokuta South LGA won the female open challenge. winners won various item which include Generators, gas cookers, Andriod phones and all the Nine qualifiers also got cash subsidy from the organisers to enable them participate at the grand finale festival

The highlight of the closing ceremony was the donation of branded Ayolopon boards to the sports department of MKO polytechnic,University of Agric. (UNAB) and Federal College of Education with the Sports Director of the Student Union Government present to receive the donations on behalf of their institutions.

Other beneficiaries of the boards include Ogun state SWAN, the NUT Ogun state branch, Kuto Market traders association and Ogun state Traditional sports Association to encourage and promote the Ayoolopon for all initiative.

Ile Ife will host the second in the series of the Ayoolopon City challenge from the Ist to 3rd of october while the grand finale festival and crowning of the Oba o’ta of the Challenge serie will hold in Oyo town from the I5th to I7th of October.