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The game of tennis has come a long way in Nigeria since independence. Its growth at the early stage was the result of a deliberate policy to introduce it in many secondary schools around the country in the 50s and 60s. This policy helped produce many acclaimed players, who won laurels on the African stage and players from Nigeria stood atop the tennis pinnacle in Africa.

There were several hubs for tennis development in Nigeria at the time: Benin, Ibadan, Minna, Enugu, Kaduna and the former Gongola State (now Adamawa) – they produced outstanding junior tennis players in the 1970s.

Nigeria also became a member of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Olympic movement as Nigerian players became regular faces in major tournaments around the world. The credit goes to the early pioneers, who invested their time and resources to further the growth of tennis in the country. People like Ibrahim Sangari, Lord Rumens, and Raheem Adejumo are three of those whose contribution should be acclaimed.

Some of the great tennis players the country had in the last 50 years include the late Lawrence Awopegba, a former national coach; and Thompson Onibokun, who is currently the chairman, technical committee of the Governor’s Cup – organised by the Lagos Tennis Championship – since its inception in 2000. Others are Edward Agori, a former assistant national coach; Bala Habu;

Ola Olagbegi; and Adewale Isa. They were regarded as the first successful set of Nigerian tennis players.

Among the top women players then were Vero Oyibokia, Ann Abimiku, Nosa Imafidon, Cecelia Nnadozie, Ngozi Morah, Aishatu Adamu and Peju Akomolafe.

Nigeria has had six different generations of men and women tennis players from the 50s till the present time.

The afore-mentioned players were the best in Africa but could not compete with the rest of the world in the 50s and 60s tennis scene as it was not an open sport for people of colour. Probably the late Edward Agori may have won one of the grand slams as he was considered the best person ever to hit a consistent backhand, which was a veritable weapon then, in his years.

Bloom in the 70s and 80s

At a point in the 70s, Nigeria rose to the pinnacle of African tennis – but it has now fallen to a low where no Nigerian player is ranked in the top 500 players for both the men and the women.

Mohammed Ubale, a former national player believes Nigeria, who says the game has lost its essence and stopped producing real quality players, remembers the era.

“I remember that there were lots of Europeans playing the game then and they used to help us out with the basics and even with equipment. I remember my first tennis shoes and tennis racquet; they were given to me by a Frenchman in 1973, when I was nine years old,” Ubale said.

“That gift really spurred me on and the thought of beating my benefactor became the over-riding goal for me by which my game improved tremendously to the point where I became my benefactor’s coach. I trained every possible moment. But today that is not the case – what we have now are people playing the game, who do not want to be taught the fundamentals – there is no way that that kind of player will ever become the best.”

Nigeria tennis witnessed tremendous growth during the ‘oil boom’ because there were many tournaments organised in the country by companies and individuals.

In addition to this, a lot of Nigerian players were offered scholarships in universities abroad and were therefore able to play in international competitions.

This generation of tennis players included Nduka Odizor, Tony Mmoh, Bulus Husseini, Sadiq Abdullahi, David Imonite, Romanus Nwazu, Godwin Kienka, Steve Olagbegi, Rotimi Akinloye, Segun Balogun, Chris Mamman, and Bitrus Istifanus.

A number of these players competed in grand slam events like the US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open and French Open. Nduka Odizor, known as the Duke famously got to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1983. He also rose to as high as number 40 in the world.

The current generation has not been able to produce very good players, not because there are not enough tournaments but the tournaments are not strong enough to attract international competitors especially from Europe compared to past years.

Former Dutch number one, Paul Harrhuis as well as former world number one, Thomas Muster of Austria and others at one time played in Nigerian competitions like the Ogbe Hard Court Championships, and the Lord Rumens Tennis Classic.

Challenges to tennis growth

“The major problem facing Nigerian tennis continues to the problem of effective leadership and good governance,” said Abdullahi.

The Nigeria Tennis Federation board in 2008 approved aggressive marketing and sponsorship drive, establishment of functional committees, accelerated youth development program, special attention to women programme, training of coaches and umpires, adequate planning for Davis Cup, encouraging more futures and national competitions, and encouraging the sponsors of the board programmes.

But since then, the foundation has become dormant and incapacitated because of political wrangling that have shifted the focus and revealed the true intention of tennis federation leadership. As a result, the leadership failed to follow the clearly defined vision and goals for tennis development in the country.

“Sani Ndanusa, like Raheem Adejumo, and Chuka Momah, are responsible for the demise of tennis in Nigeria. But Ndanusa had the machinery of government and the PDP heavyweights and the support of Patrick Ekeji, the director-general of the National Sports Commission behind him. He had the opportunity to transform the game but looked the other way to tennis and other sports,” Abdullahi said about the state of the game.

Looking Ahead

On the women side, Nigeria has not produced a good female player to represent the nation in any of the A-grade competitions. Nosa Imafidon and Vero Oyibokia could have been the answer for the woman’s game but the tennis federation failed to help them achieve their dreams and the country’s goals.

For things to improve, former tennis player, Murtala Habu, who is based in the USA, said the bureaucracy that has almost run the game aground must be dismantled.

“Every tennis player that grew up and played tennis in Nigeria would testify that the Nigerian Tennis Federation is even more bureaucratic than the Nigeria government. But here is the difference. We know who is responsible for the bureaucracy and that is the challenge facing tennis development in the country,” Habu said back in 2003.

“Nigeria once known as giant of Africa in sports particularly tennis is now sleeping giant. Poor execution of tennis programs is causing the country tremendously; those responsible for the growths of tennis are not doing enough to continue building what was left.”

Nduka Odizor said cooperation between all parties will only bode well for the growth of the game.

“To transform tennis will require collective efforts within and without. The Nigerian Tennis Foundation, USA has pledged to work closely with the tennis federation with its grassroots efforts. But because of lack of trust and misunderstanding, the vision and advice as expressed by Sadiq Abdullahi to Ndanusa was not heeded or followed through,” he said.

Presently, there is no Nigerian ranked player on the men and women’s tours; Nigeria has not been doing well in the Davis Cup for years while we are yet to participate in the female version – the Federation Cup. Countries like Benin Republic, Morocco and Togo, who once looked up to Nigeria, now have higher rated players.

Sani Ndanusa was the head of the tennis federation for over eight years before becoming the Minister of Sports in 2007. He has now returned as president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). Abdullahi believes he has another chance to turn things around.

“Now that Ndanusa has become the NOC president, he has another chance to redeem himself. He can do several things, but first he must resolve to transform sports, particularly tennis in order to prepare young elite athletes for the promises and challenges of international competitions,” Abdullahi said.

“I have blamed my generation of accomplished and successful tennis players for our role in the tennis demise. The structure in place kept us out of the discussion about any meaningful contributions; instead some elements are fighting the tennis authority while others are organising private tennis junior tournaments. Nigerian tennis glory can still be reclaimed and its rightful place in global sports re-established.”

That is the hope as we celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary, we need to reflect in order to have the courage to hit the best tennis strokes for a meaningful change in the next 50 years.