I’ll Develop Table Tennis in North-Central if Elected- Ibrahim

Maryam Aminu

Barrister Hamidu Ali Ibrahim, a lawyer and seasoned civil servant, has declared his ambition to contest for a seat on the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), pledging to make grassroots development his top priority, with special focus on the North-Central region.

Ibrahim, who has twice served as chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Table Tennis Association, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that his passion for the sport and proven leadership track record positioned him to drive meaningful change.

“At least as a member of the board of the National Table Tennis Federation, I should be able to develop table tennis in North-Central Nigeria in particular,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of discovering and nurturing young talents through consistent local competitions, lamenting the dominance of players from only a few regions.

“Table tennis is a sport Nigerians are naturally good at. Sadly, most of the stars we see at the national level are from the Southwest. My plan is to take the game to the grassroots, organize competitions, and raise champions from other parts of the country, especially the North-Central,” he explained.

Reflecting on the outgoing NTTF board, Ibrahim commended their efforts but said more could be achieved. “They have done well, but there is always room for improvement. We will build on their achievements to take the sport to greater heights,” he noted.

Highlighting his achievements as FCT chairman, including the successful hosting of the North-Central Table Tennis Championship, Ibrahim reassured stakeholders of his commitment: “Anything I say, I do. By God’s grace, we will deliver.”

He further stressed the need to groom fresh stars who can eventually succeed Africa’s table tennis icon, Aruna Quadri. “We must support those already excelling internationally and deliberately raise the next generation of champions. Table tennis should unite Nigerians, just like football does,” he added.

Looking to the future, Ibrahim expressed optimism about Nigeria’s medal prospects on the global stage. “Why not? With our abundant talents and the right leadership, Nigeria can compete for Olympic medals,” he declared confidently.