Ogu community, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria, will host the National Top 16 Table Tennis Championship from December 11–14, 2026, in an attempt to promote the sport and find new talent in the South-South region.
While inspecting facilities in Ogu in preparation for the competition sponsored by the Fifika Chiri Foundation, President Dr. Adesoji Tayo of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) made the announcement.
According to Tayo, the choice to conduct the championship in Rivers State was one component of a larger strategy to expand the popularity of table tennis beyond of its Southwest region and into other regions of the nation.
He praised Alabo Boma Iyaye, president of the Fifika Chiri Foundation, for his support of the project, and he pointed out that there were advantages to playing table tennis outside of the athletic realm.
“Table tennis is a game that can be played even till old age,” he remarked, describing it as a leisure activity that anyone can enjoy.
According to the president of the NTTF, the sport has the potential to be a source of entertainment, an exercise motivator, and a gateway to professional prospects for young people.
“Our trip to Rivers State is not solely focused on discussing competition; rather, it is an opportunity to discuss table tennis and its positive impact on our daily lives,” Tayo stated.
Following his assessment of the potential site, Tayo was pleased with the community’s amenities and said they were adequate for the championship.
It brings me joy that such a magnificent structure could stand here. He stated that it was beneficial for the competition.
He reassured the tournament’s organisers that the federation will supply all of the necessary technical assistance and professional equipment, such as tables for competitions and other supplies.
Tayo went on to say that Ogu would host the championship and that the top sixteen male and female players in the country would be invited to participate.
They will be brought by us, and we will make it easy for them to come. He assured them that they would be supplied with all the necessary professional kits.
While speaking, Iyaye—who is also the NDDC’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration—mentioned how table tennis was a common pastime in his hometown of Port Harcourt when he was a kid.
We were all avid table tennis players when we were kids in Port Harcourt. “You can’t be a Port Harcourt native and not play table tennis,” he remarked.
He detailed how he started a local Christmas table tennis tournament in Ogu out of a need to bring the sport back to the area, and how it has since expanded to include players from all across Rivers State.
He claims that he pursued a nationwide tournament for the community after seeing success at the local and state levels.
It was a major step forward for the town, according to Iyaye, who thanked the NTTF president for agreeing to hold the National Top 16 Championship in Ogu.
In particular, I’d like to express my gratitude for your decision to travel to Ogu and Rivers State to host the National Top 16. An impressive achievement, he remarked.
Among the community’s available resources that he listed were its hotels, road network, memorial hall, and electrical supply, all of which would be necessary for the tournament to be a success.
This championship will not only be held in Ogu once, but will continue to be held in this region of the world, Iyaye promised. He went on to say that one of the goals of the program was to get Ogu more exposure in the sports world.
In her remarks, Ama-ebi Ebikpolade, who represents the South-South on the NTTF board, hailed the hosting arrangement as a significant achievement for the area, pointing out that it had been quite some time since Rivers State had played home to a major federation championship.
“A tournament of that level is coming to Rivers State for the first time,” Ebikpolade added.
He expressed hope that the championship will become a regular event in Ogu and complimented Iyaye for providing the support that made it possible.
“Today is the first day.