NSCDC wins maiden Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), at the weekend, outclassed Lagos State in a thrilling final game to win the First Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championship.

The event, held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, was historic as it marked the entry of mixed team table tennis tournament into Africa.

Powered by SAIL Foundation, an endowment of Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, and his wife, Feyisola, the final game was witnessed by co-founder of SAIL Empowerment Foundation, Senator Abiru, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, Chief Impact Consultant, SAIL Innovation Lab, Mr. Deji Abisola, and the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Mr Wahid Enitan Oshodi, who were kept on the edge of their seats throughout the final game.

Playing for the title at the maiden event that featured 28 teams, including participants from Togo and Benin Republic, the Lagos team of Matthew Kuti and Muiz Adegoke fought gallantly for victory. However, they found experienced NSCDC duo of Rilwan Akanbi, and Abdullahi Abdulrahman too hard to crack, losing the game 3-2 to surrender the N1 million prize money to the NSCDC team.

At the end of hostilities, special accolades were given to Ondo State’s Funmilayo Ojo, and NSCDC’s Abdulrahman, who were named the most improved and valuable players of the championships.

In his closing remarks, Senator Abiru expressed his commitment to youth empowerment through sports and commended the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), and the ATTF President, Oshodi, for their roles in making the tournament a success.

“This championship has marked a new chapter in African sports, as we brought to life, the first mixed table