Wahid Oshodi: Rising Profile of A Table Tennis Enthusiast

Since his appointment as Chairman, Lagos State Table Tennis Association, his profile as a seasoned table tennis administrator has continued to rise. The Old Boy of Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos would go on to be Member, ITTF Nomination Committee, Chairman, ITTF Nomination Committee, Deputy President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF). Wahid Enitan Oshodi recently made history at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) when he emerged as the candidate with the highest votes in the election of Executive Vice President of the world body. He believes his election into the Executive Committee (EC) of ITTF would raise the profile of the sport in Nigeria and Africa Kunle Adewale writes

For Enitan Oshodi, his election as the Executive Vice President of the world body means Africa now has a strong voice in the direction ITTF will grow.

“My election along with Prof Alaa Meshref of Egypt will ensure that Africa has a prominent voice in the direction in which the ITTF will grow. The ITTF is carrying out a lot of projects to ensure the commercial viability of our sport and with our presence on the executive committee, we will ensure that Africa is not left behind and keeps pace with the rest of the world. Of course, I am there to serve all our 227 global member federations and this we would do by working closely with the Presidents of Continental Federations and member associations.

“Table tennis is evolving daily and I am happy to be able to contribute my quota at this crucial period. I believe we have the capacity to be a top three-sport worldwide. We have the most gifted athletes in our sport and we the administrators must continue to find ways to project our athletes and develop our sport,” the University of Lagos engineering graduate said.

Asked of his immediate objectives as ITTF Vice President, Oshodi reacted thus: “Two major areas I shall be focusing on are improvements to youth development and creating top-class events across the continent. Africa has a lot of fantastic young players and we need to help them develop their skills and grow to become top players. We have been doing this for a while but this new position will assist greatly in sourcing resources to assist these young boys and girls in their development. They need the best coaches and they must attend international tournaments to test themselves. Being a part of the World Table Tennis tour is very important in seeking to be the best. We must continue to produce top events that will attract the best players to come to Africa.

We in Nigeria saw the effect of the hosting of the Lagos International Open on our players. It aided them in playing against top-class players and different styles. I am confident we can produce more top world-class players like Quadri Aruna and others.”

“The NTTF is trying to fast-track the development of some of the best young boys and girls discovered in our tournaments earlier this year. We must start to create more opportunities for these youngsters to play at a much early age using the right equipment and not makeshift tables and suchlike. The NTTF is on the right track but more funding needs to be found to do this work to improve our players. I will work with them to see how we can bring these resources in,” he noted.

Oshodi however admitted that he was astonished by the outcome of the election.
“I was really astonished. Although I along with my supporters were quietly confident. We had the support of all of Africa. We had managed to unite Africa earlier in the year during the ATTF elections where I had emerged as Deputy President unopposed. It was these same good people who had encouraged me and insisted I run for Vice President of the ITTF so we had a good base to start from. The President of the ATTF and our own President in Nigeria Ishaku Tikon led from the front.

“When the results were announced I was totally overwhelmed by the level of support I had received from all over the world. I really must thank and credit our friends in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation and those from Europe Asia and the Americas. It was really a pleasant surprise that I was so well thought of. I am really grateful as this is an endorsement of all the work I have done in past years in Lagos, Nigeria, and Africa.

It is a credit to the fantastic team we have built over the years in table tennis. The victory belongs to all these young men and women who work with me on all our events and all those Heads of Government especially in Lagos from His Excellency Babatunde Fashola all through to the current Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I must also thank all our sponsors that have supported us over the years. Special thanks go to Chief Kessington Adebutu in this regard.
The former Lagos State Commissioner of Sports believes Africa has a really bright future in table tennis.

“This we can see in the performances of our top players like Aruna, Omar Assar, and Dina Meshref who are consistently holding their own against the best players in the world but what gives me great confidence is the young talent which abounds on the continent across many countries.
“The likes of young Hana Goda, Taiwo Mati, Samuel Boboye, young Gado and many more tell me the future is really bright. But this can only happen if we the administrators find ways to secure the resources needed to support the players and create the events in which they will perform. I predict great things for Taiwo Mati and all the other young players,” he said.