Anambra State Deputy Governor, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has declared open the maiden edition of the Anambra Governor’s Cup Lawn Tennis Tournament, with 16 clubs participating in the competition.

The tournament, organised by Anambra Country Club in partnership with Audi Company Limited, aims to promote sports development, discover emerging talents and encourage youth participation in tennis.

Speaking at the opening ceremony at the tennis courts of Anambra Country Club, Awka, on Wednesday, Ibezim described the competition as an avenue for discovering sporting talents and promoting public-private partnerships in sports development.

He hailed the organisers and sponsors for their wonderful thought towards the initiative stressing that it would reflects and aligns with the state government’s approach to encouraging private-sector participation in sports development and other areas of the economy.

He said the competition is an avenue for discovering sporting talents, promoting healthy living and physical development. said It demonstrates the values of public-private partnerships in driving development across the state.

Ibezim urged the organisers to sustain the initiative, saying it aligned with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of using sports to promote health and physical development.

The President of Anambra Country Club, Ejiamatu Enekwechi, said 16 teams from across the state were participating in the tournament.

Enekwechi thanked the deputy governor for attending the event and commended the media for publicising the club’s activities.

He said the exercise was part of the club’s continued efforts at promoting sports development, nurturing young talent and encouraging active youth participation in tennis and other global sporting activities.

The Managing Director of Audi Company Limited, Clems Ifezue, said the company sponsored the tournament as part of its commitment to giving back to society.

Ifezue announced a prize of ₦1m for the winner, ₦500,000 for the runner-up and ₦100,000 each for the other participating teams.

The state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba, described the tournament as an investment in talent discovery, youth development, healthy living and sustainable sports development.

He said the government needed the active participation of corporate organisations, private investors, sports associations, clubs and host communities to advance sports development, adding that the state could not achieve the goal alone.

The event was also attended by members of the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Council, led by its chairman, Patrick Anaso.

Sports development has increasingly involved collaboration between government agencies, private-sector organisations and sports clubs to expand opportunities for athletes, promote grassroots participation and nurture emerging talent added such partnerships can help provide facilities, funding and competitive platforms for young athletes to develop their skills and pursue sporting careers.