By Akpan David, Calabar
Five-time Olympian, Offiong Edem has lamented that lack of funding is gradually killing Table Tennis in Nigeria, especially Cross River State.
In an interview in Calabar, Edem said many budding Nigeria stars have been deprived many opportunities to compete at key international engagements even after qualifying for such.
“I have a particular instance when a young star qualified recently for one grand competition abroad. What remained was only her air tickets. She did everything legally possible to raise funds and or get sponsors, there was no luck. She missed such an opportunity that would have launched her farther,” she said.
Edem said in her own case she would normally conserve her prize monies for next competitions, which reasons she was able to compete in many international competitions without any supports.
Edem now a coach in the United States of America after retirement from active playing for several years, also added that equipment used for Table Tennis such as the bats, balls and other kits are very costly, unaffordable by young people.
Offiong, right, with a journalist
To properly equip teenagers participating in the annual Calabar Table Tennis championship holding on Friday 18 April 2025, she has brought in equipment worth N15 million.
Mouthwatering prizes have been earmarked for well-performing players who are drawn from nine states in South-South and southeast
Edem said why she is sponsoring young people in Table Tennis is to ensure that the game does not die due to lack of sponsorship.
“I don’t want Table Tennis to end with me. I want to groom younger ones to love the game,” she pointed out.
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