The seventh edition of Nigeria’s premier grassroots table tennis showcase, the Adegboyega Efunkoya National Cadet Table Tennis Championship, will hold from August 11 to 15 at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, the organisers have said.

Organised yearly by the Efunkoya Sports Foundation in partnership with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the tournament has become a vital pipeline for nurturing young talent. Many of the athletes who recently represented Nigeria at the ITTF Africa Youth Championships and Cup in Accra—including standout names like Matthew Kuti and Favour Ojo—first sharpened their skills at this championship. Kuti, in particular, has risen through the ranks to become a key member of Nigeria’s senior national team.

According to the organisers, the tournament remains committed to discovering and grooming future stars while also supporting their education. Chairman of the Efunkoya Sports Foundation, Femi Olugbile, explained that the event goes beyond competition, with a training clinic now a permanent feature of the programme.

“Our focus is developmental because we know that identifying players early helps us impart the skills they need to excel,” Olugbile said. “This year, we are placing special emphasis on female players, as Nigeria’s women’s team has fallen behind the rest of Africa. The first two days will be devoted to intensive training under qualified coaches.”

Olugbile also stressed the importance of balancing sports with academics: “We want to produce educated champions. The era of neglecting education for sports is gone. Some of us combined both successfully, and that is the model we want these young athletes to follow.”

As part of the programme, a mentorship initiative will run alongside the clinic from August 11 to 12, featuring professionals from diverse fields who will guide and inspire the athletes. The competitive segment of the tournament will then take place from August 13 to 15, with U-15 players from across Nigeria expected to participate in what promises to be a thrilling showcase of emerging talent.