The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN has over the years shown that the bank is irrevocably committed to the development of sports in the country. 

The apex bank has been in the forefront of supporting and developing sports through the sponsorship of sporting events which include the CBN Tennis Open Championship among other sporting events in the country.

However, with just two months to the end of the year, tennis players and officials across Nigeria believe that the CBN will continue its Social Corporate Responsibility by sponsoring the 46th edition of the CBN Open Tennis Championship. 

The objective of the Senior Open Tennis Championship remains to ensure that young talents are given a veritable platform to showcase their talents and represent the nation at International Tennis Tournaments. 

Over the years the competition had also served as a platform to take youths off the streets and afford them an opportunity to channel their energy and showcase their talent, a vision the management of CBN shares with the board of the Nigeria Tennis Federation. 

One of the biggest tennis events in Nigeria, CBN Open, was initially scheduled to take place in May 2024 but was postponed due to change of management of the apex bank.

However, while entertaining questions from journalists on while the biggest tennis event in Nigeria is delaying, Secretary General of the Nigeria Tennis Federation Makpa Aliyu Shammah expressed hope that the 2024 edition of the championship will still hold.

“We are not losing hope as the year is still on; we are hopeful that the biggest tennis championship in the country will still hold; the players are anxiously waiting. We are just waiting for response from CBN to go ahead and I can tell you we are good to go”.

“As a federation we are concluding all necessary arrangements for the championship to take place, we are ready, facilities are in good shape and the players are ready to take part, all we need is just the response from CBN to set the ball rolling”.

The former Secretary General of Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Makpa, also commended the management of CBN for their support over the years.

“We cannot talk about tennis development in Nigeria without mentioning CBN because most of our best tennis players are products of CBN Open Championship. CBN is the platform to get the best and where talents are discovered. It is a youth empowerment; a tournament every tennis player wants to play, so we are commending the management of CBN for their massive support”.

David Ekpenyong and MaryLove Edwards are the winners of the 45th CBN Senior National Open Tennis Championship men and women’s singles events in Abuja.

David Ekpenyong won his first CBN Senior Open title after his opponent, Uche Oparaoji was forced to retire with an apparent shoulder injury while trailing 6-1, 4-1.

In the women’s singles event, Marylove Edwards dismissed Aanu Aiyegbusi 6-2, 6-3 to claim a third straight title in a row in Abuja.