By Babawale Solomon
Eko Hot Blog reports that table tennis enthusiasts on Friday gathered at the prestigious Ibadan Recreation Club, Sabo, Ibadan, Oyo State, for the official opening of its remodeled table tennis section.
Established in 1902, the Ibadan Recreation Club was once a former all-British club formerly known as Ibadan European Club.
Today, it is equipped with tar and sand tennis courts, a large swimming pool furnished with pool-beds, an indoor squash court, dart session and a billiards table.
Essentially, the club is where Ibadan residents and outsiders, both old and young, go to have some quality good-for-your-health fun.
On Friday, the Ibadan Recreation Club celebrated the opening of its remodeled table tennis section.
The event, which witnessed the presence of key members of the club, including Mr. Aribike Ademola, the Chairman of the tennis section, and the club’s president, Dr. Tayo Adesoji, and his vice, Mr. Olaitan Bamidele Akinola, featured activities such as an exhibition match and a fundraiser.
The chairman of the tennis section recounted the remarkable achievement of raising approximately N3 million within just 24 hours for the court’s remodeling.
He also acknowledged the generous member who contributed a new tennis table.
Gratitude was equally expressed towards new friends of the club, Otunba T.J. Abass and Otunba Sam Dipeolu, who made generous donations to the tennis section.
“I want to say thank you to all the donors. The entire money for this remodeling was raised in 24 hours. We will continue to thank them for what they did,” Mr. Ademola stated.
Otunba Abass, the publisher of Eko Hot Blog, commended the club’s collective efforts in raising funds to transform the face of the table tennis section.
He also hailed the club for helping the elderly to stay physically fit and strong.
The Ibadan Recreation Club’s president subsequently commissioned the remodeled tennis court.
The club vice president also inaugurated the new tennis table donated to the club.
To mark the occasion, an exhibition match was held on the remodeled court, featuring Mr. Friday and Mr. Mohammed.
Mr. Friday, a business manager, who emerged victorious in the exciting match, expressed his excitement at winning the game, saying it was a honour to beat one of the strongest players at the club.
He also commended the management of the Ibadan Recreation Club and donors for transforming the face of the tennis section, saying, “They’ve done a wonderful work.”
In an interview with Eko Hot Blog, Dr. Adesoji retraced the club’s history, dating back to its establishment in 1902.
Originally utilised by the colonial settlers, it later welcomed indigenous members post-independence, a tradition maintained until today.
The recreation club president appreciated the immense contributions of the tennis section’s members.
“I am proud to be a member of this club. I say thank you to our donors for always contributing to the development of this club,” he said.
Likewise, the vice president expressed delight at the upgrades within the tennis section, extending gratitude to all contributors and expressing hope for more development within the club.
“The tennis section is witnessing a major transformation. If you look at other sections of the club, you’ll find some developments going on. We are lucky to have a leader [the club president] leading us in the right direction,” Mr. Akinola told an Eko Hot Blog correspondent.
The commissioning event concluded with music and joyful feasting.
See more photos from the event below:
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