Nigeria Tennis Umpires Association Hosts First Ever Advantage All Wokshop
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
In a bid to ensure female tennis umpires in Nigeria get the required training to excel in the field, the Nigeria Tennis Umpires Association, NTUA, Thursday in Abuja, became the first in Africa to host the International Tennis Federation’s “Advantage All programme” thus setting the pace for other African countries.
The essence of ITF’s Advantage All programme, is to develop and maintain tennis as an equal advantage sport with the hope improving gender equality in all areas of the game where everyone is provided the same advantage and opportunity across the sport, both on and off court.
The workshop organised in conjunction with the Nigeria Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Federation is to further deepen domestication of the initiative which Nigeria formally signed into in 2021 at the Annual General Meeting of ITF in Glasgow, Scotland.
According to the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Engr. Ifedayo Akindoju, who declared the workshop open, the Officiating Department of the Nigeria Tennis Federation has advanced beyond the imagination of anybody and the ladies in tennis officiating have done so well.
He revealed that the Federation, has been in the forefront in promoting gender fairness, gender equality in terms of opportunities and participation, and have put in place a well monitored and guided mechanism to ensure that no body is treated unfairly.
The Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Tennis Umpires Association, Mrs. Rose Abu, in an address of welcome encouraged the participants to see the opportunity as a stepping stone to developing and sharpening their officiating knowledge and skills.
She was full of praises for the ITF for endorsing the event, the President of NTF and the country’s Officiating Manager, Mr. Kehinde Ijaola, for their efforts and commitment to making the day a reality.
Other speakers at the workshop, with the theme: Tennis Officiating: Place, Value Of Women In Officiating And Empowerment, included the first female bronze umpire in Nigeria and second in Africa, Mrs Leticia Enyogai Handley, gave insights into the challanges and prospects of tennis officiating for females, Dr Folashade Ogunshola, dwelt her on women in tennis officiating and career development, while Martina Ebijimi and Aisha Karsamu took the participants on a refresher course, a tennis enthusiast, Uche Okolie, spoke on women in career and other genders among others.
It was a moment of sober reflection as a minute silence was observed in honour of the immediate past Nigeria’s Advantage All Ambassador, late Arinola Isa-Banire who died in July 2023.
The were also on court practical sessions to remind and enable participants have a feel of officiating.