The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, has declared his support for the forthcoming 1st Governor Diri Top-16 Table Tennis Championship scheduled to hold from November 30 to December 1, 2025, in Yenagoa.
Dr. Emelah made this known on Friday during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, led by its Chairman, Amaebi Ebikpolade Stow, at his office in Yenagoa.
He commended the organisers for their initiative, describing the championship as a landmark sporting event that aligns with Governor Douye Diri’s vision of using sports as a tool for youth development and social engagement.
According to him, the Ministry of Education is proud to partner with the association to ensure that young people in Bayelsa State are given the opportunity to nurture their sporting dreams and channel their energies productively.
“The continuous investment of Governor Diri in sports development across the state is commendable. It is therefore imperative for us to support initiatives like this that promote excellence, discipline, and the spirit of competition among our youths,” Emelah stated.
In his earlier remarks, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Amaebi Stow, said the visit was to officially invite the commissioner to the championship and to seek closer collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
He revealed that the tournament will feature the top 16 ranked table tennis players in Nigeria and will also include a special veterans’ event from November 27 to 28, 2025.
Stow, who is also the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Government, highlighted the association’s plans to use the event as a platform to inspire young talents and position Bayelsa as a hub for table tennis in Nigeria.
He further lauded Dr. Emelah for his longstanding commitment to sports, describing him as a veteran and passionate supporter of table tennis.
