Serving Skills and Scholarships: Inside the 2025 National Cadet Table Tennis Championship
The sixth edition of the National Cadet Table Tennis Championships is set to serve up talent and transformation from August 12 to 16 in Lagos, across two iconic venues the National Stadium and Teslim Balogun Stadium. But this isn’t just another tournament. This year’s event carries a powerful theme: “Producing Educated Champions.”
Organized by the Efunkoya Sports Foundation, the championship blends high-level competition with mentorship, education, and life skills, creating a platform where young talents can dream beyond medals and become complete individuals.
According to Ranti Lajide, the foundation’s spokesperson, this year’s edition is special. For the first time, former Nigerian table tennis icons from across the globe, including those in the U.S., England, and Asia, are returning to mentor and support these young athletes.
“We’re seeing more support from our former players in the diaspora. Eight new contributors have joined this year alone,” Lajide shared.
In addition to the tournament, a two-day elite training clinic will kick off the event, led by six top national coaches. Alongside this, a mentorship program will run simultaneously, focusing on character building, discipline, and academic excellence.
This isn’t just about competition, it's about continuity. The top eight players in both boys’ and girls’ categories will automatically qualify for the prestigious Atanda Musa National Invitational Top 16 Classic.
And if history is anything to go by, this championship is a proven pipeline for Nigeria’s national teams. Take Matthew Kuti, for instance, once a cadet champion, now Nigeria’s senior national champion. Or Aishat Rabiu and Favour Ojo, who have transitioned into the junior national team after rising through the ranks in this tournament.
“Several alumni are now representing Nigeria at senior levels. That speaks volumes about the impact of this event,” Lajide said.
So far, clubs from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, Niger, Osun, and Kwara have confirmed participation. The 2025 edition is also being positioned as a build-up to the National Youth Games in Asaba, giving young players exposure ahead of a bigger national stage.
Founded in memory of Dr. Adegboyega Efunkoya, a trailblazing medical practitioner and former Chairman of the Nigeria Table Tennis Association (1963), the tournament stays true to his vision, sports and education, not as rivals, but as partners.
“We continue to award educational scholarships to our winners annually. This year will be no exception,” Lajide affirmed.
The National Cadet Table Tennis Championship is doing more than producing future athletes—it’s raising well-rounded champions who are as skilled in the classroom as they are on the court.
