By Isaac Afolabi
It was a colourful, memorable, and fun-filled day as the train of the Ondo state summer tennis clinic, pioneered by the Ondo state first lady Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu made its final journey to Akure venue of the summer tennis clinic in the central senatorial district of the state.
The famous and oldest tennis court in the southwest of the Akure recreation center Oke-Eda was filled with sportsmen and women, children who were gorgeously dressed in their clinic vest, dignitaries and admirers of the laudable event of the first lady to catch a glimpse of the activities.
Addressing the crowd Ondo state first lady Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu said the event has produced over one thousand children with interest in the game of lawn tennis with over one hundred and fifty involved and enlisted as members of the Arabirin junior tennis club.
Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu also noted that the summer tennis clinic has produced players who have represented the state in national and regional championships intending to produce more.
She further noted that this year’s edition has been extended to other towns in two senatorial districts of Ondo state which are Owo and Okitipupa to afford kids in the nooks and crannies to also benefit from the initiative.
Chairman of the occasion and the commissioner for youth and sports development in Ondo state Mr. Dele Ologun who was elated lauded the effort of the first lady saying that such would engage the mental ability of the kids and even produce great stars such as Venus and Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic.
He equally thanked the state governor for his love of sports development charging parents to expose their kids to sports even at a tender age.
On his part, the chairman of Akure recreation club and former chief of staff in Ondo state Dr. Kola Ademujimi said the club is delighted with the yearly event saying that Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu has added glamour to the club by constructing a court and attracting more women to the club.
Dr. Ademujimi said the Akure recreation club is the oldest tennis court in the southwestern part of the country having been founded by the old British settlers in 1927 will always be available for interested players and the first lady summer tennis clinic.
Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion included regents local government chairmen from Idanre, Akure north and south, and the house of assembly member Mr. Toluwani Borokini among others.
