Jide Allen of Radio Kwara and Baba Ibrahim of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have qualified for the final of the male event in the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)-organized and Hon. Ogbeni Seun Oguniyi-sponsored Inter-Chapel table tennis tournament.
It’s a dual triumph for Radio Kwara as Itunu Olaosebikan from the first Broadcasting House in the state also secured a spot in the final of the female category, gearing up to face Mrs. Yetunde Bamidele of the State Information Chapel for the gold.
The final is scheduled for tomorrow at the NUJ Press Centre, Offa Road, GRA, starting from 3.30 pm.
Jide Allen, arguably the champion of all NUJ-organized table tennis contests, defeated Kehinde Adeseko of the Federal Information Chapel in the quarter-final and Ibrahim Alege of the Correspondents’ Chapel in the semi-final, both in two straight sets, enhancing his prospects for yet another prestigious victory.
On the other hand, Baba Ibrahim secured his place in the final by defeating Sodiq Adebara in two straight sets in the quarter-final and Babatunde Jimba of Kwara State Television Service by two sets to one in the semi-final.
In the female category, Itunu Olaosebikan defeated Hajia Bimbo Sulaiman in two sets, while Yetunde Bamidele emerged victorious against Mrs. Jimoh Fatima, securing their spots in the final.
The tournament, which saw participation from 21 players across 11 Chapels, is graciously sponsored by Hon. Ogbeni Seun Oguniyi, representing Ojomu/Balogun Constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly. Hon. Ogbeni Oguniyi serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Human Capital Development.
The final tomorrow will be attended by the sponsor, Hon. Ogbeni Seun Oguniyi, and some legislators from the Kwara State House of Assembly. Special Guests expected to grace the event include the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji, Olympian and Ambassador of Kwara SWAN, Mallam Hameed Adio, Chairman of Kwara United, Kumbi Titiloye, General Managers of Radio Kwara and Kwara State Television Service, Alhaji Kayode Aremu and Mallam Ayobami Akanbi respectively, alongside Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, the Nwachigoziri 1.
Chairman of the Kwara Council of NUJ, Mallam Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, praised all the Chapels for their support, emphasizing that the tournament would further foster unity and friendship among working journalists in the state. He also commended Hon. Ogbeni Seun Oguniyi for sponsoring the tournament and urged other well-meaning Kwarans and philanthropists to support NUJ and journalists in the state in sports and other recreational activities.
