By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
DavNotch Nigeria Limited has announced plans to significantly increase prize money and welfare packages for players, coaches, officials and other stakeholders in future editions of the DavNotch National Open Tennis Championship, reinforcing its commitment to the growth and development of tennis in Nigeria.
The company’s Managing Director, Emmanuel Ochei, made the disclosure during a press briefing ahead of the grand finale of the sixth edition of the championship in Abuja.
Ochei said the tournament, organized in partnership with the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), has evolved into one of the country’s leading privately sponsored tennis competitions since its inception in 2021, serving as a platform for talent discovery, player development and sporting excellence.
“As we prepare for the grand finale, we celebrate another remarkable milestone in Nigerian tennis. This championship has evolved from a promising initiative into one of Nigeria’s most prestigious privately sponsored tennis tournaments, providing opportunities for talented players to compete, improve their rankings and pursue professional careers in tennis,” he said.
According to him, the competition has attracted more than 1,000 players across six editions, with several participants progressing to become national champions and key figures in Nigerian tennis.
Among the notable products of the championship are current men’s national champion Canice Abua and reigning women’s national champion Itoro Bassey. Other past winners include Joseph Ime, David Epeyong, Daniel Adeleye, Onyilomo Quadre, Marylove Edwards and Anu Ayegbusi, while Success Ogunjobi is the defending women’s singles champion.
Ochei reiterated the company’s belief in the abundance of untapped tennis talent in Nigeria and its determination to provide athletes with the support needed to succeed on the global stage.
“We believe Nigeria possesses an abundance of untapped talents capable of competing with the very best in the world. Our mission is to provide these athletes with the platform, exposure, encouragement and support they require to realize their full potential,” he stated.
The DavNotch boss also paid tribute to the immediate past President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, the late Engineer Ifedayo Akindoju, describing him as a visionary administrator whose support helped establish the tournament’s credibility and success.
“He was not just a visionary administrator but a passionate advocate for every initiative aimed at advancing tennis in Nigeria. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of players and sports administrators,” Ochei said.
Highlighting the championship’s impact on Nigerian tennis, he noted that it has contributed to the country’s resurgence on the international stage, including Nigeria’s return to the Davis Cup World Group II after nearly four decades. He added that the inclusion of wheelchair tennis since the tournament’s inception reflects DavNotch’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities.
Ochei further commended NTF President Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and the federation’s board for sustaining momentum in the development of tennis nationwide.
He announced that future editions of the tournament would feature enhanced prize money and improved welfare packages for players, coaches, officials, umpires and ball kids.
“Our determination is to make this championship one of the most rewarding and professionally organized tennis tournaments on the African continent while prioritizing the welfare of everyone involved,” he said.
Representing the NTF President at the briefing, the federation’s Vice President, Owoseni Adeyemi, praised DavNotch Nigeria Limited for sustaining its sponsorship of Nigerian tennis for six consecutive years and expressed optimism that the partnership would continue for decades.
“We hope that as we celebrate the sixth edition today, the Nigeria Tennis Federation will someday celebrate six decades of DavNotch’s sponsorship,” Adeyemi said.
He highlighted reforms introduced by the current NTF administration, including a comprehensive digital player registration system aimed at creating a reliable national database and strengthening grassroots tennis development.
Adeyemi described Nigeria’s qualification for the Davis Cup World Group II after defeating higher-ranked Uzbekistan in the World Group II Play-offs as one of the federation’s landmark achievements.
Ranked 74th in the world at the time, Nigeria stunned 49th-ranked Uzbekistan, with Daniel Adeleye winning two crucial singles matches, while Canice Abua and Michael Emmanuel secured victory in the decisive doubles match to seal promotion.
The achievement marked Nigeria’s return to the Davis Cup World Group II for the first time since the late 1980s.
He also hailed the successful hosting of the 2026 ITF J30 Junior Circuit and the recently concluded CBN National Open Tennis Championship, describing both tournaments as evidence of Nigeria’s growing capacity to host world-class competitions.
The federation further announced plans to immortalize the late Engineer Akindoju by naming the centre court of the National Tennis Centre after him in recognition of his contributions to the sport.
Speaking on behalf of the players, defending women’s singles champion Success Ogunjobi expressed appreciation to DavNotch, the NTF and coaches for creating more opportunities for competitive tennis.
“We don’t have many tournaments during the year, so we are grateful for this championship. We hope to have even more competitions in the coming years because they help us develop and improve,” she said.
Nigeria’s wheelchair tennis captain, Wasiu Yusuf, also commended the organizers for consistently sustaining the wheelchair category while calling for more open competitions to help players improve their rankings.
Responding to the appeal, DavNotch assured athletes that welfare provisions would continue to improve, while emphasising that discipline would remain a key criterion for participation in its support programmes.
The sixth edition of the DavNotch National Open Tennis Championship will conclude on Saturday in Abuja with the finals and closing ceremony, marking another milestone in a tournament widely regarded as a catalyst for the growth of Nigerian tennis.
