Ex-Delta Speaker Victor Ochei Elected Nigerian Tennis Federation President, Pledges To Revamp Sport
By PAULINA NZERUBE
FORMER Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has been elected President of the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) following a transparent and peaceful election held on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Ochei clinched victory with 11 votes, securing a four-year mandate to lead the federation, while Mr. Datti was elected unopposed as Vice President.
In his post-election address, Ochei expressed gratitude to the tennis community for the confidence reposed in him, describing the election as a collective success rather than a personal victory.
“To the glory of God, it was an election where we all campaigned and we all won together,” he said. “The Federation remains one united body — no victor, no vanquished. Our collective goal is to uplift Nigerian tennis and position it as a sport of pride and excellence.”
The new NTF President emphasized that his administration’s focus would shift quickly from politics to performance, with a strong commitment to revitalizing tennis development across all levels.
“The election is just the beginning,” Ochei noted. “The real work lies ahead — activating the entire tennis ecosystem. Everyone has a role to play, and we’ll harness every resource to ensure no region or stakeholder is left behind.”
Ochei also unveiled his vision for a complete restructuring of the Federation, targeting improved governance, sponsorship attraction, and career development for players and coaches.
“We intend to repackage the Federation’s structure for efficiency and transparency,” he explained. “With the right partnerships, funding, and administrative reforms, Nigerian tennis will soon witness visible progress, both at the grassroots and professional levels.”
Stakeholders across the Nigerian sports community have welcomed Ochei’s emergence, expressing optimism that his leadership will usher in a new era of energy, structure, and innovation for the game.
