The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Sunday held a table tennis tournament as part of activities marking its 72nd anniversary, with Habib Adebayo of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Chapter emerging champion.
The tournament, held at the Not Bad Sports Arena, Egbeda, Lagos, featured 14 players drawn from various chapters of the association, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, PTML, Kano, Airport, Seme, KLT and Port Harcourt.
Adebayo defeated Olatunde Tayo of the Seme Chapter in three straight sets to win the trophy and N250,000 cash prize.
Tayo finished second and received N150,000, while Ibrahim Jamiu of the Airport Chapter and Oladele Olaoye of Port Harcourt Area 1 emerged third-place winners and shared N100,000.
The tournament, which attracted a large turnout of members was formally declared open by the ANLCA President, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, and the Chairman of the 72nd Anniversary Local Organising Committee, Prince Segun Oduntan.
Speaking after the competition, Nwokeoji commended the organising committee and participants for the successful tournament, describing the turnout and quality of play as encouraging.
He congratulated the winners and praised all the players for their sportsmanship, noting that the tournament provided an opportunity for members from different chapters to interact outside their professional environment.
Earlier, Oduntan, who is also Vice President of ANLCA, said the tournament was the second in a series of sporting activities organised by the association as part of the anniversary celebration.
He said the initiative was aimed at promoting physical exercise, healthy recreation and socialisation among members.
According to him, regular physical exercise contributes to healthy living, while sporting events such as the tournament provide members with an opportunity to relax, interact and strengthen relationships beyond their professional activities.
Oduntan added that the anniversary celebration was put together not only to celebrate ANLCA’s 72-year history but also to promote the welfare, unity and wellbeing of its members.
The event was attended by the ANLCA Patron, Chief Taiye Oyeniyi; the association’s Zonal Coordinator, East; and chapter chairmen from various chapters.
The winners appreciated the ANLCA leadership for organising the tournament and urged the association to sustain and expand the initiative in subsequent editions.
The anniversary activities continue on Monday, with Nwokeoji expected to lead an ANLCA delegation on an outreach to less-privileged members.
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