The founder of the Royal House of Grace International Church and Grand Patron of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, has commended Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow for transforming the fortunes of table tennis in Bayelsa State.
Apostle Aggrey gave the commendation at the opening ceremony of the South-South Veterans Table Tennis Championship held at The Fortress in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
He said he was delighted to see the entire South-South region and table tennis enthusiasts from across Nigeria converge on Yenagoa for both the South-South Veterans Championship and the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Tournament, describing the events as “remarkable and historic.”
The former Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association expressed amazement at the “gigantic and world-class” edifice constructed by Ama-ebi Stow for the sport, stressing that the facility has given table tennis in Bayelsa a new direction and renewed national respect.
Apostle Aggrey urged stakeholders across the Niger Delta to invest more in the development of table tennis, noting that replacing ageing athletes should be a priority. He said the match between Samuel Boboye and his opponent demonstrated the abundance of untapped talent across the country.
He added that Ama-ebi Stow’s passion for sports, particularly table tennis, complements the commitment of Governor Douye Diri, whose unwavering support for sports has continued to bring global attention to Bayelsa State.
Speaking with journalists, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow, stated that all the Niger Delta states were represented in the championship. He explained that the aim was to assemble the best players in the region and strengthen competitive development.
Stow, who is also Technical Adviser on Sports (Table Tennis) to the Governor, said the essence of the tournament—beyond prize money and trophies—was to reaffirm Bayelsa’s status as the number-one table tennis state in Nigeria, following its dominance at the last National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to him, the South-South Veterans Championship and the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Competition also serve as platforms to showcase the governor’s developmental agenda to the world, especially as Bayelsa prepares to host the National Sports Festival in 2028.
The South-South Zonal Representative on the Board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation added that the championship has boosted small and medium-scale businesses across Yenagoa.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Douye Diri, Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, for prioritizing sports development in the state.
Also speaking, Mr. Morrison Asimole of the Port Harcourt Club 1928 commended the organizers for the laudable initiative, noting that the championship has created excitement among members and enhanced camaraderie.
The South-South Veterans Table Tennis Championship will end on December 30, while the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Championship will hold from December 30 to climax on December 1, 2025, at The Fortress.
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