The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has set up a training camp for 35 players, aged from nine to 19, at Babcock University in Ogun State in preparation for three overseas competitions in Ghana and Guinea later this month.
Key takeaways
- NTTF is training 35 young table tennis players at Babcock University ahead of three international events.
- The squad includes 18 girls and 17 boys, aged between nine and 19.
- The athletes will take part in Africa Hopes Week and Challenge, the West African Regional Championships, and the African Youth Championships.
- Coach Dotun Omoniyi leads the camp with assistance from four other coaches.
- NTTF says the partnership with Babcock has reduced the number of officials the federation must deploy since the players arrived last month.
- Both the NTTF leadership and Babcock University officials highlighted strong facilities, nutrition support, and medical care during the camp.
Camp setup for three international tournaments
The 35 players are in camp at Babcock University as part of Nigeria’s preparations for Africa Hopes Week and Challenge, the West African Regional Championships, and the African Youth Championships. The group is split into 18 girls and 17 boys, all within the nine-to-19 age bracket.
Training is being overseen by Coach Dotun Omoniyi, along with four additional coaches, as the federation looks to fine-tune performance levels ahead of the tournaments scheduled to be held in Ghana and Guinea later this month.
Federation and university partnership
NTTF president Adesoji Tayo said the federation and Babcock University have reached a shared understanding designed to turn the campus into a permanent training location for Nigeria’s national table tennis teams. He added that since the players began the camp last month, the arrangement has lowered the number of officials the NTTF needs to send to support the athletes.
Tayo also praised the training environment, saying the players benefit from “good food,” proper nutrition and strong overall backing. He noted that the sports hall is well equipped and that the quality of the playing facilities played a major role in the decision to base the camp at Babcock.
He further explained that the university’s prior experience hosting more than 13,000 athletes at the National Sports Festival made the organisation of the camp simpler. Tayo said any players who fell ill during the period had received appropriate medical support on campus.
Babcock stresses holistic development
Babcock Vice Chancellor Professor Afolarin Ojewole described the camp as part of the university’s broader commitment to developing students in a balanced way. Ojewole said sport holds an important place in building discipline, determination and sportsmanship alongside academic preparation.
Ojewole added that at Babcock University, setbacks are treated as part of the journey, saying losing is part of winning—reinforcing the value placed on participation and growth through competition.
