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President Bola Tinubu has described Wahid Oshodi’s election as President of the African Table Tennis Federation as a proud moment for Nigeria.
Oshodi was unanimously elected as the President of the body at its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.
The newly-elected president, a former Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development in Lagos State, succeeds Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy, who has led the Federation since 2010.
In his congratulatory message, Tinubu noted that Oshodi’s election was a proud moment for Nigeria, reflecting the strong support he garnered in the lead-up.
He was nominated by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and backed by several African nations, indicating the country’s unwavering support for its sports leaders.
He says Oshodi’s election is also a vote of confidence in a seasoned sports administrator who has committed his time, energy, and resources to develop table tennis at the grassroots level and demonstrated his integrity, accountability, and dedication in carrying out his responsibilities.
His commitment inspires all sports enthusiasts and is a hopeful sign for the future of table tennis.
According to Tinubu, Oshodi will bring his extensive leadership experience to elevate ATTF and the sport to the next level of success across the continent.
Oshodi’s election makes him the second Nigerian to hold the ATTF presidency, after Engr. Segun George, and the only Nigerian currently heading a continental sports federation.
This comes on the heels of his roles as Deputy President of ATTF and Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation, positions that have solidified his influence in African and global sports administration.
As ATTF President, Oshodi is expected to leverage his experience and connections to further develop table tennis across the African continent, building on the foundation laid by his predecessor.
His unanimous election underscores the confidence that African table tennis stakeholders have in his ability to steer the sport to greater heights on the continent.
Oshodi’s distinguished career in sports administration began in 2000 when he was appointed to the Lagos State Sports Council Governing Board by then-Governor Bola Tinubu.
While serving as chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association, Oshodi was appointed in 2011 by Governor Babatunde Fashola as Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development. As commissioner, he oversaw the highly successful National Sports Festival, tagged “Eko 2012,” which further cemented his reputation for excellence in sports management.
While applauding Oshodi’s passion and commitment toward advancing table tennis at the local, national, and continent levels, the Nigerian leader assures him of the country’s continued goodwill and necessary support to succeed in his new role.
