Adejumo Tennis Club inaugurates new exco, unveils plan

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The new leadership of the renowned Adejumo Tennis and Sports Development Club (ATSDC), Ejigbo, Lagos State has as part of the new administration’s agenda under Project Development, promised to complete  the complex’s bar without financial recourse to the club, renovate Tennis Courts and Snooker Board among others.

Adejumo Sports Club

Chief Sir Tony Ihuoma, the new president of ATSDC made the promise in his presidential speech during the inauguration of the leadership of the club at the complex over the weekend.

His five point agenda for the club include, Enhancement of Sporting Activities in the Club such as Youth Sports Development, and annual Youth Sport Clinic, Improvement in Welfare of Members, Administrative Reformation and Income Generation.

L-R: Funsho Omokorolue, Vice President and Sir Anthony Ihuoma, President focused on the mission

Ihuoma who is also a Justice of Peace (JP) promised to sail harmoniously with his executive members to take the club to the desired destination of the founding fathers.

“I promised not to take this position lightly, and I fully understand the responsibilities that you all have bestowed  upon me. We all know that with great power comes great responsibility.

“You have placed me in a position of power that I respect. I will assume all of my responsibilities to the greatest of my abilities, and I hope that you will help me along the way,”

L-R: Alhaji S. Adegboyega, outgoing President; Sir A. Ihuoma incomingg President and Dr Bolaji Akerele

He thanked the outgoing president, Alhaji Adegboyega Sanni and other past leaders for their foresight, patriotism and steadfastness all these years of their selfless service to humanity, not allowing the club to drift to rack and ruin.

Commending also Alhaji Bashir Adejumo, a member of the Board of Trustee (BoT), he stated that his sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed especially holding on to the dream of the founder (popularly called ‘International Mr Tennis) which was to catch them young, expressing that it’s the courage to raise a child that makes one a father, and in the face of the reality that one day his children will follow his examples not his advice

Change of Barton, Alhaji Adegboyega hands over to Chief Ihuoma

“The founder envisioned instituting youth sports development centered on catching them young as well as grooming coaches from the system that would train them rather than laboriously seeking for a foreign coach to employ,”Ihuoma recalled.

Alhaji Adegboyega Sanni, the outgoing President in his valedictory speech thanked God who has given him the grace to render his second and last address as the president of the club.

He recalled the debilitating setback COVID -19 brought, however thanked God that in spite of all, he has worked hard with his team to make progress, entrenched peace and tranquility.

The club he said has grown in leaps and bounds, increasing membership from 23 to 98 active members, as well as realising 7 of his administration’s  11 points agenda.

Members of the outgoing executive

He stated: “My happiness is that the incoming executive are mostly the offshoot of this outgoing, meaning that targets unmet that are our shared vision will be of their immediate concern.

“It is To the credit of this outgoing executive and the support of members that the club came out of economic challenges and COVID-19 with grade ‘A’ in the management of the club finances without drastically hampering the progressive development of the club.”

The financial standing of the club he enumerated as bourgeoning in excess of income over expenditure as at June 30, 2021.
The outgoing chairman expressed concern that sports nevertheless, a sure tool to national cohesion,  the club is lacking in members of northern extraction which need to be balanced.

He called on all those victorious to be magnanimous in victory, admonished: “members that were not elected should accept the fact that all of us are winners and there is still another time.

Seun Ayantuga recieves his certificate of return from Alhaji B Adejumo while Chief Innocent Midichie watches on

“Let us all join hands together to build this Tennis and Sports Development Club to be the envy of other clubs and bring to fruition the intention and goals of the late founder.”

While dissolving the old executive, Alhaji Bashir Adejomu, a member of the BoT was full of gratitude to the outgoing executive for an eventfu tenure.

He expressed optimism that the new president being a former secretary will be an added advantage, and a great asset to his regime and to the club in general.

Adejumo charged the members to give their support to the new executive who are predominantly youths, by so doing the dream of the founder will be sustained and improved upon.

The general secretary, Brr. Nonso Ezema expressed gratitude to God who has made it possible for them to be called to this great service, he further sought for prayers and support of the members to achieve the five point agenda of the new executive.

Brr. Nonso Ezema, General Secretary giving vote of thanks at the end of the event

He assured his unflinching support to the president who he described as a very humble and a goal getter.

Ezema revealed that COVID -19 no doubt has changed the dynamics in meetings and keeping of proceedings of meetings, but however has reinforced a new baseline that distance is no longer a barrier to timely and regular meetings.

He assured that technology will be effectively utilized to drive the vision, goals and objective of the founding fathers and in actualizing the dreams of the new executive.

The new secretary who was the  assistant general secretary in the last administration further stated: “There are so many miles to cover, COVID -19 has changed the way and manner of doing things in the world today, we will not be left out in putting this club on that fast and technologically driven lane.

Yomi Soniyi reciving his certificate of return

“We are in the boat together to revive this club. The president has started well, especially in his revenue drive, we have seen  he has pushed further today by the donations. Am not in doubt that greater heights and mileage shall be covered within this two year.”

Nkeiruka Ezealadi, in a chart with Nation Update said  her three years as a member has benefited her a lot, she expressed happiness that capable hands were inaugurated to pilot the affairs of the club.

The club she said has afforded her and many others  the opportunity to engage in sports, merry with family and friends, without which may have not been so easy to achieve.

Ezealadi was optimistic that more women are on their way to join the.

she entreated women to come and make good use of the facilities in the place to keep them fit and in shape.

Ezealadi, speaking to newsmen at the sports complex

She reiterated that there are so many games to engage one (both indoor and outdoor), she alienated the fear of many that previous experience and encounter in sports could be a deterring factor saying such is never a barrier.

“Once i close from work, I move down to this place to engage in body exercise, it has helped me a lot to build my physical and mental state.

“I play table tennis, lawn tennis, badminton or any other sports. I learnt everything here, I was not a sports person, I never participated in sports all my days in school, I never partake in any sports.
I have found myself doing it, and am happy being in it,” she said.

Also contributing, Ngozi Emengaha, who is also one of the few women presently in the club charged women in particular to avail themselves of the opportunity sports could offer to keep themselves in shape and in sound mental acumen.

Emengaha

Expressed that benefits of being in the club are quite enormous, not only that it connects one to people that matters in the society, it brings one in tune to the realities of life.

Ngozi voiced optimism that there will be tremendous progress in the club in the next two years, she said, “with the calibre  of president on the helm of affairs of our club, the next two years will bring a great turn around in the club, there will be many business openings here. Rebranding has already started.

“Chief Ihuoma is a man of few words, already, we have started seeing the direction of his leadership, I have no doubt that the key word will be projects! Projects!! all the way.

“We pray for wisdom of God upon him and his team as they pilot the affairs of this club. We the women are at our best, in support to them.

Assured women are poised to balance the equation, bridge the gap in the next election of the club.

Chief Ihuoma and his team

The new president had in a chart with newsmen called on women to take advantage of the subsidized registration cost granted them to join the club en masse promising to give them the necessary support. He further stated that he is challenged to go extra miles, looking at what the late founder Adejumo has given to mankind.

Assured of attracting cooperate participation. Ihuoma said he will be remembered by projects he hope to accomplish within his two years tenure by the special grace of God.

” I will want to be remembered for good infrastructural development, improvement in sporting activities in the club and qualitative engagement of youths in sporting activities especially during vacations,” he assured,

Highlights of the event were issuing of certificate of return to the new executive, administering of oath to the new executive, and decoration of the new president by the outgoing president.

A minute silence was however observed in honor of their departed colleagues.

Among those sworn in to pilot the affaires of the club for the next two years were: Chief Anthony Ihuoma, President, Funsho Omokorolue, Vice President, Nonso Ezema, Secretary and Peter Mayaki Assistant General Secretary.

One of the courts at ATSDC, Ejigbo

Others sworn-in were, Seun Ayantuga, Anthony Udofa, Yomi Soniyi and the outgoing chairman, Adegboyega who took oath as an Ex-Officio member.

Many dignitaries, friends and family members attended the event including some past federal Lawmakers.