By NewsNexus

JALINGO, Taraba — President of the Jalingo Tennis Club, Brig. Gen. Aliyu Jeremiah Faransa (Rtd.), has described the maiden Dr. Agbu Kefas North-East Tennis Championship as a landmark initiative that will accelerate youth development and grassroots tennis across the North-East.

Brig. Gen. Faransa, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service (TARIRS) and Chairman of the Taraba State Taskforce on Mining, made the remarks during the opening and closing ceremonies of the championship at the Jolly Nyame Stadium Tennis Court in Jalingo.

He said the tournament represents more than a sporting competition, describing it as a strategic investment in the future of young Nigerians.

He commended the Secretary to the Government of Taraba State and North-East Zonal Representative of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, Chief Gebon Timothy “GeeTee” Kataps Ngwii, for sponsoring the championship, noting that his vision has created a platform for identifying and nurturing future tennis champions.

According to him, the championship is designed to instill discipline, resilience, sportsmanship and excellence in young athletes while providing them with opportunities to compete at a high level.

Brig. Gen. Faransa stressed that sports remain one of the most effective tools for engaging young people positively, reducing idleness and social vices, and promoting peace, unity and healthy competition, particularly in the North-East.

He also praised Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas for creating an enabling environment for sports development and youth empowerment in Taraba State, noting that the administration’s support for sporting initiatives is already yielding positive results.

“The future of tennis in the North-East is bright if we continue to invest in our young talents,” he said, urging participants to remain disciplined, determined and committed to achieving excellence both on and off the court.

Brig. Gen. Faransa further applauded coaches, parents, officials, security agencies, volunteers and members of the Local Organising Committee for their contributions to the successful hosting of the championship.

The championship brought together young tennis players from Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States in the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17 categories, providing a platform for discovering and developing emerging talents.

As part of the grand finale, outstanding athletes received educational grants ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000, presented in cash to support their academic pursuits alongside their sporting careers. Chief Kataps also announced plans to sponsor champions and runners-up in each category to participate in an international tennis championship in Ghana.

Brig. Gen. Faransa expressed confidence that the championship would become an annual event and evolve into one of Nigeria’s leading grassroots tennis competitions, producing athletes capable of representing the country on national and international stages.

He said the success of the maiden edition demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration between government, sports administrators, private sponsors and community stakeholders in building a stronger future for Nigerian sports.