By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
The President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has announced an ambitious new agenda aimed at reviving tennis in Nigeria and increasing youth participation across the country.
Speaking on the Arise TV Global Sports programme on Saturday, Ochei outlined a comprehensive reform strategy designed to reposition tennis as a mainstream sport through structured development, innovation, and grassroots investment.
A key pillar of the initiative is the introduction of a centralized national registration system for tennis players. The platform will assign every registered player a unique identification number, creating a unified database to improve talent tracking, access to clubs, and participation in competitions nationwide.
“We want every registered tennis player to have a player’s number. This will help us build a comprehensive compendium and also make it easier for players to access tennis clubs and competitions nationwide,” Ochei said.
He emphasized that the federation’s focus is to identify and nurture talent from an early age, with a structured development pathway targeting children and teenagers between the ages of 4 and 18. The programme will be implemented across primary and secondary schools to build a sustainable pipeline of future champions.
Ochei also reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to sports development, recalling his earlier investments in youth empowerment initiatives, including support for wheelchair basketball athletes and funding for Nigerian teams competing internationally in countries such as Algeria, South Africa, Germany, and Brazil.
At the grassroots level, he highlighted the continued success of his annual Village Unity Cup, a community-based tournament aimed at promoting unity, peace, and youth engagement through sports. He also revealed that he has established a stadium and sports development centre dedicated to training and developing young athletes.
Looking ahead, Ochei announced that the NTF is currently developing a 10-year Strategic Tennis Growth Plan (2026–2036), which will serve as a blueprint for long-term tennis development in Nigeria.
“Our target is to catch them young, build their interest early, and create a sustainable pipeline of champions who will represent Nigeria with pride,” he added.
The initiative signals a renewed push to elevate Nigerian tennis and position the country as a competitive force on the global stage.
