Chief Gbolahan Odele has hailed the impressive turnout at the 4th edition of his annual Gbolahan Odele Junior Tennis Championship in Lagos.
The philanthropist who sponsors the tournament through his Gbolahan Odele Foundation, was left speechless after seeing the number of kids who attended the tournament currently holding inside the Adejumo Tennis Complex, Ejigbo, Lagos.
The weeklong event which was meant to serve off on Sunday, 23 August, 2026, was delayed due to the heavy rainfall witnessed at the venue of the event. However, when action began fully on Monday, 24 August, the whole place was buzzing with kids from different parts of the country.
“I’m very happy,” Chief Odele began, during a quick chat with Nigeria Tennis Live.
“These kids right here, seeing them in this large number from 21 States across the federation, gives me immense joy.”
Nigeria Tennis Live reports that over 200 players from 21 States throughout the country are in Lagos for the 4th edition of what is gradually becoming a national open junior tennis championship in the heart of Nigeria’s commercial capital.
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Coach Dele Badejo, the Tournament Director, noted that: “we even had attendance from States that we didn’t invite for the tournament.
“We feed the kids daily, accommodate them and make sure they are driven to and from their hotels on a daily basis.
“Also, we have the youth category which is a UTR-rated event. We had to move to another venue for them because the number was beyond our expectation, hence the use of the Lagos Country Club in Ikeja”.
While speaking on the growth of the event over the years, Chief Odele said: “we started with only six states three years ago, last year, we had 12 invited States and this year, we have moved to 18 invited States, while others who heard about the tournament also made their way here.
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“The dream remains, that I want to get that one kid who can, through our tournament, sponsor represent Nigeria at the major international event, that we can be proud of. That one kid is whom we’re looking for through this tournament, and we are hoping to get the kid.
“We already gave scholarship to the likes of Godwin Afaramai and Salvation Alex in the last two years and we are looking forward to having another at this year’s event, because I believe we need to do better for these kids.
“Also, I’m challenging corporate sponsors to join hands with my family to do even more for these young ones because they are the future we see, who will take Nigeria up there through tennis”.
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The Gbolahan Odele Junior Tennis Championship will reach its climax on Saturday, 29 August, inside the magnificent Adejumo Tennis Centre in Ejigbo, venue of the weeklong event.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep all our readers updated on the latest development from the championship as they progress.