The Lagos State
Government has endorsed Wahid Enitan Oshodi for the post of African Table
Tennis Federation (ATTF) President.
He is the last person to occupy the position of Commissioner for Youth, Sports
and Social Development in the state.
Since his
tenure, Lagos State has had a chairman for the sports commission.
Oshodi is set to contest as the chieftain of the continental body at
the 2024 Elective Annual General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October
15.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga
Omotoso, the government expressed its support for Oshodi’s candidacy, citing
“his genuine passion for table tennis over the past decades”.
Under Oshodi’s leadership as Commissioner, Lagos became a prominent
destination for table tennis globally.
“We are backing him and wish him all the best. He is a worthy Lagosian who has
encouraged many of our youths to take up the game as professionals. Besides, he
has been at the forefront of our talent search. He has groomed many,” Omotoso
quoted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as saying.
Oshodi began his journey as the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis
Association and became Commissioner in 2011 during Governor Babatunde Fashola’s
administration.
During his tenure as Commissioner, Lagos hosted the highly acclaimed National
Sports Festival, ‘Eko 2012,’ and established itself as a key sports hub in
Africa with the introduction of the International Sports Classics series.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted Oshodi’s rising profile in the world of table tennis,
noting: “We are excited that Mr. Oshodi has continued to make Lagos and Nigeria
proud with his impeccable record within and outside Africa. In 2021, he became
a leading figure in world table tennis; he was elected Executive Vice President
of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Deputy President of
ATTF. We believe his election will positively impact table tennis and sports in
general, and we are confident that Lagos will continue to be a leading city in
table tennis in Africa.”
If elected, Oshodi will be the second Nigerian to hold the prestigious
position, following the steps of Segun George, a former ATTF President. His
election will also make him the only Nigerian heading a continental Sports
Federation.
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