NTF to honour Prof. Ikulayo with post-humus award

The Nigeria Tennis Federation has revealed plans to honour its late board member, Professor (Mrs) Philomena Ikulayo with a post humus award.

NTF 1st vice president, Yemi Owoseni disclosed this at the burial ceremony of the deceased which took place on Friday at Ijurin-Ekiti, her husband’s hometown.

According to him, the significant contribution of the deceased to the development of Nigerian tennis cannot be downplayed hence the need to honour her.

“Maybe we should have done this before she died but it is worthy to note that her role in tennis development in Nigeria is enormous.

Owoseni, who represented the NTF at the burial of the deceased, disclosed that the award will be given to her at the Central Bank of Nigeria Open Tennis Championship which will take place in Lagos in May.

On his part, NTF President added that Prof. Ikulayo has always been one of the faces of the federation in major events in the country and it is befitting that she is honoured at the next CBN Open which is the biggest domestic tournament in Nigeria.

“She demonstrated her commitment for tennis throughout her year as a board member of the NTF. We owe it a duty to honour her with an award which I must point is well deserved. We will live with the memories of her love for tennis,” Ndanusa said.

The late Ikulayo, who died on March 24, 2016 at 68, was a professor in Education/ Human Kinetic & Health Education in the University of Lagos.

A barrister at Law, she is credited to have co-authored 173 publications and she had at several times deliver papers at events organized by the Sports Ministry in Nigeria. She was survived by her husband and four children.