The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; a former First Lady of Oyo State, Kemi Alao-Akala; the lawmaker representing Ido/Ibarapa East federal constituency, Remi Oseni, and others have canvassed support for the Ibadan Tennis Club (ITC) to raise a sum of N750 million in commemoration of its 100 years.

They made the call during the centennial celebration of the 1925 Ibadan Tennis Club (ITC), a luncheon, lecture, and N750 million fundraising event that took place at Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Oba Olakulehin was represented by Dr. Mogaji Ilori Alabi Koleoso, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, was represented by the Agbolu of Agbaje, Ile-Ife, Adekunle Adebowale.

They all urged well-meaning Nigerians to support the club in order to realize the money.

The event also had in attendance the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Ajeniyi Ajewole, and others.

The chairman of the event, Oseni, in his address, lauded the club for its century-long contributions to community development, stressing that its efforts in societal upliftment cannot be overstated.

He urged Nigerians to embrace sports as a pathway to better health, stating that wellness goes beyond medication and that sporting activities remain a natural and effective way to stay fit, healthy, and prolong life.

In his remarks, President of the 1925 Ibadan Tennis Club, Dr. Oladipupo Sule, described the club as a heritage-rich indigenous institution. He said marking 100 years is not just a celebration of longevity but also of resilience, continuity, and relevance in community development.

Dr. Sule noted that the club has evolved with time, adapting to societal changes while maintaining its core values and fostering a sense of belonging among members.

He said: “Our club prides itself in giving back to the community, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare delivery, hence, the purpose of today’s centennial launch was to raise funds to be channeled towards this cause, along with sporting and infrastructural development.

“We intend to identify 100 brilliant pupils selected from public secondary schools across selected local government areas of Oyo State whose families are less privileged in the society for payment of WAEC fees and proceed to follow up and monitor them for eventual scholarship awards up to the University level for the duration of their courses.

“We are partnering with 10 local governments out of the 33 local governments of Oyo State, with the support of the Ministry of Health, for a medical outreach program in the selected local government.

“We are also collaborating with the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners of Oyo State for the medical outreach, which includes sensitization, blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar check, eye screening, and cataract surgery for identified cataract patients.

“For the centennial year, we are organizing a tennis tournament for a minimum of a hundred talented school children and providing them with tennis balls, rackets, jerseys, and a training coach throughout the centennial year.”

The wife of the former governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Kemi Alao-Akala, said her husband, who was the former Grand Patron of the club, held the club in the highest regard and was so committed to its growth.

Mrs. Alao-Akala prayed that the club would continue to flourish for generations to come.

The luncheon lecture with the theme: “The Burgle Blast of Financial Technology in Nigerian Economic Space: Perspective, Choice and Implications,” was delivered by the Deputy Director of Payment System of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Isaiah Ademola Adeleke.