The President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Victor Ochei has revealed that an elaborate plan has been set in motion whereby every player in the country will have registration numbers, Sports247 reports.
Ochei stated that the registration number scheme is part of the NTF’s current executive committee’s youth-driven reform agenda, which is aimed at expanding participation and strengthening the structure of tennis development.
He added that the new board is prioritising grassroots engagement and long-term planning to reposition tennis in Nigeria, while also creating a unified database to improve tracking of players and access to competitions.
Towards that end, the nationwide registration initiative will assign a unique identification number to every Nigerian tennis player, while making it easier to identify, develop and support emerging talents across different regions.
While highlighting his longstanding involvement in sports development, Ochei pointed out that investments in youth programmes remain central to his approach, including sponsoring athletes to gain competitive experience on the global stage.
Ochei pointed to initiatives such as the Village Unity Cup, an annual tournament he established to promote peace, unity and youth engagement through sports, as he is dedicated to nurturing young athletes in their transition to professional ranks.
“We want every registered tennis player to have a number. This will help us build a comprehensive compendium and also make it easier for players to access tennis clubs and competitions nationwide.
“Our target is to catch them young, build interest early and create a sustainable pipeline of champions who will represent Nigeria with pride,” said Ochei, who also disclosed a 10-year Strategic Tennis Growth Plan from 2026 to 2036.
