The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Malam Shehu Dikko displayed his unwavering support for 15-year-old tennis star, Khadijat Mohammed as the young athlete visited the chairman in his office alongside her father and coach, Mohammed Ohinoyi.
Khadijat is the second-highest ranked Nigerian junior player on the female ITF rankings and the youngster made history when she won the first ever Junior ITF Title
At the 2023 Dala hard court tennis tournament which was hosted in Kano, the 15-year-old announced herself to the nation, claiming the prestigious title in style. She then defended her title in the 37th edition of the tournament by reaching the final and defeating twelfth-ranked Udofa Mary in dominant fashion.
Dikko, in a press statement issued on Thursday by Mrs Ajayi Kehinde, director of information and public relations assured the young star of his support: “I am quite impressed with what you have been able to do with your tennis career. No doubt you deserve all the encouragement and support that you can get,” he said.
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“Even if you didn’t come here, I am sure we would have found you along the line. I will make sure we support and help you to be the best you can be,” the Chairman added.
Dikko expressed his optimism that Khadijat and other young tennis players, with proper training and support, can bring glory to the nation at the Olympics.
“Tennis is also an Olympics sport. It is at this age that we can start nurturing the best tennis players to get us to the podium. With the right training, I believe that in two or three years, with the right roadmap you should be having a go at the Olympics and other top competitions and we see how we take it from there. So we need to get more details about her training and the plans,” he ambitiously declared.
Mohammed Ohinoyi further appealed on behalf of his daughter, asserting that they would need the help of the NSC if she is to fulfill her potentials: “We as her parents have done our best, we can no longer take her beyond here. The remaining is in the hands of the National Sports Commission. That is why we are here. We have come because we don’t have the capacity to continue with her,” he said.
Khadijat herself declared her intentions to inspire others if supported to get to the peak of her career: “If I am supported to get up there, I will also like to lift others and help them to make it in tennis. I want to be a source of inspiration to young tennis players in Nigeria,” the young talent revealed.
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