By Tejiri Ebikeme
Chevron Nigeria Limited (“CNL”), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (the NNPC/CNL JV), has announced the final of the 2016 Junior Masters Tennis Tournament, which will hold on October 23, 2016, at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.
The championship, which commenced 17 years ago, is sponsored by NNPC/Chevron JV in collaboration with the Nigerian Tennis Federation and Prime Sports International Limited. It is part of the JV’s commitment to promoting youth and sports development in Nigeria.
The objective of the Junior Masters Tennis Tournament is to engage the youths, particularly during the holiday period to develop their tennis skills and get the opportunity to participate in tennis tournament. The program targets mostly young tennis champions from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, “The NNPC/Chevron JV Tennis program is designed to foster the spirit of healthy competition and sportsmanship amongst target youths, build capacity and develop skillful tennis players that would be able to earn sustainable living from tennis and bring glory to Nigeria.”
In addition to the Junior Masters Tennis tournament, NNPC/Chevron JV also pioneered an annual Junior Tennis Summer Coaching Clinic in 1998. The clinic is for boys and girls between the ages of Eight to 14 all residents of Lagos State. Over 320 children participated in this year’s tennis clinic held earlier in the year. The kids who show great potential from were selected to represent Lagos State in this year’s Junior Masters Tennis Championship.
Some of the products of the NNPC/Chevron Tennis Clinic who recently brought honour to the country at the International Tennis Federation Under-18 West/Central Africa Junior Tennis Championship are Oyinlomo Barakat Quadri – the best player at the tournament; Michael Osewa, Angel McLeod and Sikiru Alalade. The performance of the quartet – with two others gave Nigeria the top position on the tournament’s medal table ahead of France, Egypt, USA and Cote d’Ivoire.
Distinguished guests expected to grace the occasion include the President of Nigerian Tennis Federation and top Lagos State Government officials.
