…Pledges continued support to actualize Edem’s dream
By Esien Ita
The Cross River state representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and grand patron of the Cross River state table tennis association, Rt. Hon. Orok Otu Duke, has lauded Offiong Edem for organizing the mini table tennis tournament aimed at training young talents across the Niger Delta Region.
Duke made the commendation during the fourth edition of the Offiong Edem mini table tennis talent hunt tournament held at the UJ Esuene Stadium table tennis court.
He promised that he would continue to support Offiong Edem in her quest to actualize her dream. He said that the programme will help in the discovery of hidden young budding talents that would be groomed to stardom.
The national vice chairman, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation ( (NTTF), South South Zone, Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade had commended Offiong’s gesture in organizing a successful table tennis tournament that would help to encourage the youths within the catchment area.
He expressed delight at the initiative, nothing that it would nurture and expose upcoming talents and engage the youths more positively.
According to him, “this initiative has revealed that the main aim of organizing the talent hunt program was to catch them young in the areas of table tennis.”
Earlier, the reigning Nigeria Table Tennis female champion and six times African champion, stated that she has been sponsoring the tournament in the last four years because of the love and passion she has for the game of table tennis.
Meanwhile, in the U-14 Girls category, Chinese Okafor of Abia state won the gold medal, Onakpoberwo Ese of Delta state, went home with Silver medal, Peace Kalu of Delta state carted away the Bronze medal while Princes Enuice a bronze medal too.
In the U-14 Boys category, Clinton Ogbonwbia of Bayelsa state took the gold medal, Iwobi Rex of Delta state, got silver medal, Daniel Uche of Abia state had a bronze while Salomi Iheanacho of Akwa Ibom state carted away a bronze medal.
Also in the U-17 girls category, Chineye Okafor went home with gold medal, Peace Kalu – Silver, Onakpoberwo Ese won bronze medal while Oluchi Philip of Cross River state also won bronze medal.
In the U-17 boys category, Matthew John of Bayelsa state won a gold medal, Bright Joel of Cross River state, took home a silver medal, Able God Udoh of Akwa Ibom state carted away a bronze medal while Victor Kamala of Bayelsa state won a bronze medal too.
A total of forty-eight table tennis players from seven states of the South South and South East zones participated in the two days Offiong Edem Mini Table Tennis talent hunt program.
The states includes, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Abia, and Anambra.
Highlights of the event are presentation of medals, certificates, cash and consolation prizes.