Sports Commission nurtures tennis star to become Olympian
In line with the National Sports Commission’s catch-them-young disposition, the Commission has thrown its weight behind teenage tennis sensation Khadijat Eleojo Mohammed. At only 15, Khadijat has proven to be the next big thing in Nigerian tennis, as she became the first West or Central African player to win the ITF J30 World Tour. Aged 14 in 2023, she is the first teenager to win the Dala Tennis, a title she retained in 2024. Way above her peers, she has even cracked it professionally with back-to-back Dala Hard Court titles. The challenge for the young star now is how to take that step to the next level, considering the immense financial demands of professional tennis. For this reason, her father and coach, Mohammed Ohinoyi, a certified ITF coach and a former professional tennis player, appealed to the NSC for support. They had helped her thus far with their meagre resources and could no longer afford the demands of the next phase of her development. NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko has stepped in, saying that the Commission will ensure that Khadijat’s full potential is realised.
