The Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has thrown his hat into the ring for the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) Presidency.
Elections into the executive positions of the ATTF would be held at the 2024 Elective Annual General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 15.
Ahead of the election, the Lagos state government has thrown weight behind Oshodi, who served as a Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, during former governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration in 2011.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the government expressed its support for Oshodi’s candidacy, citing “his genuine passion for table tennis over the past decades.
“We are backing him and wish him all the best. He is a worthy Lagosian who has encouraged many of our youths to take up the game as professionals. Besides, he has been at the forefront of our talent search. He has groomed many,” he said.
Oshodi began his journey as the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association and became Commissioner during Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration.
During his tenure as Commissioner, Lagos hosted the highly acclaimed National Sports Festival, ‘Eko 2012,’ and established itself as a key sports hub in Africa with the introduction of the International Sports Classics series.
If elected, Oshodi will be the second Nigerian to hold the prestigious position, following the steps of Engr. Segun George, a former ATTF President.