Saheed Ademola, the 21st Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom of Lagos State, has announced his sponsorship of the remodeling of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club VIP Stand.
The Elegushi made the pledge during the finals of the Oba Elegushi Tennis Championships held at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Lagos Island.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championships is an annual amateur tennis championships sponsored by the Elegushi kingdom.
“Lagos Lawn Tennis Club is our own and our pride. So, I have decided to remodel the VIP stand because we need a modern structure to attract more competitions to the arena.
“The remodelling is just a change that we need now because this place needs to look better. The arena cannot remain the way it is for the past 10 years without any improvement,” Elegushi said.
The traditional ruler said the stand would be named the Bola Tinubu Stand after its remodeling which would place it among many other modern ones in the world.
“After the remodelling, the VIP stand will be named after Bola Tinubu who has contributed immensely to the development of this place.
“This place will be a place of pride to all Lagosians and indeed Nigerians and lovers of tennis game,” he said.
The Elegushi, while speaking on the championships, said the event was designed to accommodate aspiring talents and consequently give them the platform to showcase their skills with handsome rewards.
“The Oba Elegushi Tennis Championships was at first not taken seriously, but as a person, I love tennis and also play it.
“For me, I have not left playing tennis as I exhibited when I played during the exhibition match.
“I have traveled to Turin in Italy to watch then finals of tennis championships and I wish I can replicate the same model in Nigeria to look for talents to play outside Nigeria,” he said.
The traditional ruler, who is Kusenla III, said the championships would be improved upon as time goes on.
“As time goes on we will consider ways to improve on the competition because the competition is now keenly contested, and this involves partnership with Lagos Lawn Tennis Club members.
“I promise that the next edition will have a leap in quality,” he said.
Speaking also, the President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Kolade Olutekunbi, remarked that Oba Elegushi Tennis Championships had been a light to the club with active support.
“This is an annual tournament we always look forward to because all members are eager to participate. It is one of the major tournaments we have at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.
“We are grateful to the sole sponsor of the championship, Oba Elegushi, for his unflinching support and he has promised that the 10th edition will be greater.
“We are expecting to have players outside Lagos and Nigeria to participate in the 10th edition which will be greater because the competition is growing,” he said.
The Club President used the opportunity to make clarifications on the impending renaming of the VIP stand.
”It is not for political reasons, but in recognition of Tinubu’s immense contributions to the tennis club by providing the spectator stand seats that can accommodate 2,550 spectators.
“Tinubu has paid his dues to the çlub, hence the honour we are giving to him by naming the VIP stand after him following Oba Elegushi’s sponsorship,” he said. (NAN)
