More than 100 tennis players are set to compete in the 2025 NTF-CBN Tennis Championship, kicking off on July 21 at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The 46th edition of the Senior Open Tennis Championship is organized by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) with sponsorship from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a Thursday briefing in Abuja, Hakama Sidi-Ali, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, announced that the event will feature 64 players in the men’s singles and 32 in the women’s singles. Additionally, there will be 32 doubles teams in both the men’s and women’s categories, alongside 16 participants in each of the men’s and women’s wheelchair events.
Sidi-Ali highlighted the CBN’s enduring commitment to fostering national development through sports, emphasizing the role of youth in nation-building.
“This championship has, over the years, served as a platform for young talents to shine, offering them a constructive avenue to display their skills nationally,” she said.
She noted that the tournament includes a diverse range of categories—men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as wheelchair tennis—demonstrating the bank’s dedication to inclusivity.
“The event provides young athletes from across Nigeria a chance to compete at a national level, opening doors to international opportunities,” Sidi-Ali added.
She pointed out that the championship has a storied history of producing notable Nigerian tennis players, such as Sunday Maku, David Imonite, Veronica Oyibokia-Iwebema, Christy Agugbom, Sarah Adegoke, Sylvester Emmanuel, Imeh Joseph, Oyinlomo Quadri, and Marylove Edwards, among others.
“As we welcome a new group of competitors, the tournament continues to play a vital role in Nigeria’s youth development through sports,” she remarked.
NTF President Ifedayo Akindoju stated that preliminary matches will begin on Friday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium’s Package B, with the main championship starting on July 21.
Akindoju described the annual event, held in partnership with the CBN, as a pivotal fixture in Nigeria’s tennis landscape and a critical platform for discovering and developing local talent.
He praised the CBN’s ongoing support, noting its significant contribution to the growth of tennis in Nigeria and the country’s participation in international competitions like the Davis Cup and the African Games.
“The collaboration between the NTF and CBN has ensured that this tournament remains a reliable and effective pathway for Nigeria’s top tennis players,” Akindoju said.
