Thirty-five young players, ages nine to 19, are training hard at a national camp organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation. This camp is preparing them for three international tournaments in Ghana and Guinea later this month.
The camp is taking place at Babcock University in Ogun State. The university's management, led by Vice Chancellor Professor Afolarin Ojewole, is fully supporting this initiative.
Coach Dotun Omoniyi is supervising the camp with the help of four other coaches. The group consists of 18 girls and 17 boys who are getting ready for the Africa Hopes Week and Challenge, the West African Regional Championships, and the African Youth Championships.
Professor Ojewole expressed his admiration for the players' skills and behavior. He said the camp matches the university’s goal of helping students grow in all areas.
"Babcock University is always committed to training the heart, the head, and the hands. We believe in developing a person fully, and that includes skills. Sports are important because being fit helps with studying and allows students to enjoy life more. For us, sports are key to shaping minds, nurturing hearts, and creating future leaders.
"The discipline from sports, the drive to win, and good sportsmanship are qualities we need in the world today."
Ojewole also mentioned that losing is part of the game, which is why sports matter at Babcock University.
NTTF President Adesoji Tayo said this camp is not just a one-time event. He revealed that the federation and Babcock University have agreed to make the university a permanent training center for Nigeria’s national table tennis teams.
"Look around, and you’ll see how beautiful this campus is. It’s away from the noise of the cities, making it a perfect place for these kids to focus on table tennis. Babcock is great for them, and I appreciate the Vice Chancellor for letting them use the campus.
"They also get good food, proper nutrition, and great support here. The NTTF doesn’t need to send many officials because the university has taken excellent care of the players since they came last month. I’m sure the kids will tell you they are happy here. They eat well, transport is easy, and those who got sick received proper medical care from the university.
"This place has everything they need. The hall is excellent, the playing gear is of high quality, and that’s why we picked Babcock. The university also helped Nigeria host the National Sports Festival. If it could handle over 13,000 athletes, hosting 35 young players is not a problem," Tayo said.
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