Fashola Advocates Investment in Africa's Sports Talent

Babatunde Raji Fashola, the former Governor of Lagos State and Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, commended the performances at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Cup, which took place at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra. He described the tournament as a showcase of Africa's rich sporting talent and expressed excitement over the young athletes' displays.

Fashola recognized Wahid Oshodi, the leadership of ITTF Africa, for organizing the event and noted the need for similar initiatives across other sports. He highlighted the importance of investing in sports, particularly given Africa's youthful population, stating that such investments could significantly benefit the continent.

Fashola pointed out that sports is a trillion-dollar industry and urged policymakers to view it as a lucrative sector rather than just a recreational activity. He was acknowledged during the tournament for his contributions to table tennis in Africa, including his support for the Lagos Table Tennis Classic, which evolved into the globally recognized WTT Contender Lagos.