Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) president Tayo Adesoji has described the country’s successful bid to host the 2028 ITTF Africa Championships as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s culture, hospitality and tourism potential to the continent and the wider world.
Nigeria secured the hosting rights ahead of Tunisia at the ITTF Africa Annual General Meeting in Tangier, Morocco, with Lagos expected to welcome leading African table tennis players and administrators.
Adesoji believes the championship will provide an important platform to challenge negative perceptions about Nigeria while promoting its sporting and cultural strengths.
“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase Nigeria to the whole of Africa,” he said.
“It’s not just giant of Africa by mouth. Let them come and see what we are made up of.”
The federation president revealed that the event is expected to attract prominent international sports officials, including the ITTF president and an International Olympic Committee vice-president.
“I got the approval of the ITTF president that she also will be in Nigeria for the competition,” Adesoji stated.
“I spoke with the vice president, IOC. She also promised to be in Nigeria.”
He stressed that hosting the championship would allow visitors to experience Nigeria beyond the negative impressions they may have formed.
“We have the opportunity to diffuse some of the wrong impressions they’ve had about Nigeria,” he explained.
“We have our culture to display. We have our food to display.”
Adesoji also highlighted the diversity of Nigerian cuisine and the country’s reputation for hospitality as attractions that could make the tournament memorable.
He expressed confidence that the country’s sports leadership would provide the necessary support to deliver a successful championship.
“We should do everything possible to showcase Nigeria, because when there’s an African championship, it’s a world event,” he said.
The NTTF president concluded by extending an invitation to the continental table tennis community.
“It’s going to be a very beautiful one, and I use this opportunity to invite everybody to Lagos 2028,” Adesoji declared.
