By Olubunmi Omoogun – The Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan Enoh has promised to continue to develop and promote sports in his beloved Cross River State, South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, in order to further improve the well-being of the populace and meaningfully engage the youths in the State.
The former Minister of Sports Development, as part of his efforts to drive grassroots sports, just recently sponsored the second edition of the Renewed Hope and People First National Tennis Open 2024 to harness talents that are abound in the coastal State.
In a press statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Diana-Mary Nsan, the statement reads that the finals took place on the 7th of December on the hard court of the Calabar Sports Club 1898.
Nubari John and Rebecca Ekpenyong stole the show during the hotly contested finals of the tournament after pipping their opponents Aliyah Precious and Timiprie Maxwell to go home with cash prizes, gifts and trophies.
The highly enthusiastic crowd had a lot to cheer as the hard hitting dueling players displayed their mastery of the game with powerful drives and wonderful backhand strokes executed with utmost precision. The highly pulsating games tested the technical depth and calculations of the players who spoke with their rackets in the bid to outwit their stubborn opponents.
The thrilling tournament is staged annually to promote the growth and development of tennis in Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole.
The focus is for players in the state to have the needed exposure to excel in the sports of tennis while fostering the spirit of unity and sportsmanship amongst Nigerians and sports lovers.
The tournament aligns with the Minister’s commitment to youth empowerment, national unity, and grassroots sports development, a vision inspired by the Renewed Hope agenda. The grand finale not only celebrated excellence throughout the duration of the games, but also reinforced the importance of industry, tourism, and sports as catalysts for socioeconomic development.
The statement went further to state that the Chief Host of the tournament, Senator John Owan Enoh, who is the current Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), made it clear, that although he was no longer Sports Minister, he will continue to support the growth and development of Tennis and football in Cross River State his home state.
The former Senator said that, “I will continue to give young Cross Riverians who show excellence and hard work, the platform to excel right to the Zenith of tennis and football.”
Senator John Enoh stated that he was committed to increasing the prize money through every edition of the tournament and challenged players in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to develop sports in the State.
“This is a clarion call to Cross Riverians that there is an opportunity and early support for those who show seriousness to excell in tennis and football. I am ready and willing to give the needed support”.
The Honourable Minister of State for Industry appreciated the efforts of His Excellency Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Executive Governor of Cross River State for his passion towards sports development in the state, such that he embraced the tournament into the events programme of the grand annual Calabar Festival. The Minister also acknowledged the enthusiasm of the Sports Commissioner Hon. Agnes Atsu, noting that the performance of Team Cross River at the 8th edition of the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, showed great improvement from their previous performance, and this speaks monumentally of the efforts put in by the leadership of the state.
His Excellency the Governor of Cross River State, who was able represented by the Sports Commissioner, Hon. Agnes Atsu lauded the initiative and committed to working with the talents from the tournament to elavete the state in tennis.
The second edition of the tennis tournament saw an array of dexterous and ranked tennis players in Nigeria. Female Nigeria no.7 Rebecca Ekpenyong, no. 11, Timiprie Maxwell and Amarachi Odoh, Nigeria no. 24. Others include Aliya Precious, Universal Tennis Ranking U14, U16 Champion Bayelsa State and John Nubari who emerged winner was one time U16 champion Rivers State.
Senator John Enoh donated Tennis equipments for the continuous training of young tennis talents in Cross River State , sponsorship to other National tournaments for Charles Olom and Theresa Otu of CRS, for their maximum sports exposure.
The high point of the tournament was the presentation of cash prizes, gifts and trophies to players, not forgetting the presentation of awards of honour to the outstanding coach of the tournament, Ekpenyong Peter Effiong and the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, in recognition of his continuous support towards the growth and development of tennis in Cross River State and Nigeria.
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