NTF to immortalise Okoya-Thomas with international tournament

As part of ways to immortalise the late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, the Nigeria Tennis Federation said it would stage a memorial tournament for the late sports philanthropist.
This was contained in a statement signed by NTF President, Sani Ndanusa, on Monday in Lagos.
The statement said the body had already communicated the plan to the family of the late sports philanthropist.
The statement by Ndanusa said: “Our plans have already been revealed to the family and Deji, his eldest son, has already consented to it.
“Although there will be more talks in the coming weeks, to work out modalities for the tournament.”
According to the statement, the tournament would hold at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, where the deceased was a former president.
It added that the event would later be upgraded to accommodate players from the continent and eventually feature players from all parts of the world.
The statement said: “Chief Okoya-Thomas belongs to the international class as far as tennis is concerned and this is why the tournament must have international flavour.
“He was unarguably Nigeria’s number one tennis fan and he is our face in the game at the international level and he is so recognised by the International Tennis Federation.
“This can be substantiated by the fact that he was acknowledged at the Wimbledon Open, the French Open and the Australian Open, which he attended regularly over the years.”
The statement further stated that Ndanusa revealed that plans to celebrate the 80th birthday of the deceased would go on in France on June 8.
Ndanusa was quoted as saying: “He always looked forward to the French Open and that was where the deceased celebrated his birthdays in the last ten years always.
“Some things have been put in place ahead, we will still go on with his birthday, which is now posthumous and thankfully, Deji has accepted to stand in for him.
“He lived a fulfilled and an exemplary life and that is why he is regarded as everybody’s man, everything about him is worth celebrating.”