Ikoyi Club is now ready to host local and international competitions following the resuscitation of its tennis court and lounge at a cost of over N100 million by MTN Nigeria, the club has said.

The revamped lounge is fitted with IT equipment, a service centre where members of the club can sort out network and phone-related issues and other matters.

Speaking on the new facilities, General Manager of Customer Operation, MTN Nigeria, Egerton Idehen, said the gesture is part of the firm’s ambition of shared value and its contribution to the growth of sports in Nigeria. He promised that the network provider would do more to improve sports in the country and ensure the development of talents.

“We are delighted to set up this prestige lounge and also revamp the tennis court. We also brought service to the club so that the members wouldn’t have to go out to access our services and products.

“We do this because of our ambition to create shared values and we believe in inclusivity; we want to make lives brighter and we see Ikoyi Club 1938 as a vehicle to doing that. We are supporting the Super Eagles of Nigeria, we are investing massively into sports, youth development and others.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Tennis Section, Ikoyi Club, Diran Famakinwa, said: “MTN built for us an international lounge similar to that of Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

“This is a great partnership that demonstrates how MTN is meeting the needs of its own community. MTN has spent over N100 million on various projects within this club in the last six months and they have promised that they will continue to work with us to reach out to members. They have sponsored several projects in the club in the last two years so, this is an example of how corporate bodies are working with social clubs and we are both getting synergy for each other.

“The court is now up to an international standard and that’s going to improve the playing skill of our members and will also allow us to attract leading tennis players in Nigeria as well as in the world.”

“We have had Serena and Venus William play here; so, we look forward to the new generation of tennis players coming to play here. We want the youth members to be able to experience the kind of facility where they wish to play abroad that they will find in Ikoyi Club.

“We are ready to host major competitions; we have nine courts of international standard in Ikoyi Club so, we are ready to host any International Tennis Federation (ITF) sponsored tournament. To do that, we need sponsors to raise the prices that will attract international players to play here.”