Fashola Receives African Tennis Award.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos has been given a Long and Outstanding Contribution to the game of Tennis Award by the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT).

The award was given to the Governor for sustaining and supporting the successive staging of the Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis Championship since assuming office in May 2007.

The award ceremony took place on Friday, 13 April, at the prestigious French Restaurant, Al-Solaimaneyah Golf Resort & Spa Hotel , 70km out of Cairo airport in Egypt, during the Annual General Assembly of the African Tennis governing body at the just concluded African Junior Championship, AJC.

Though Governor Fashola was physically not present to receive the award, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, the Tournament Director of the Governor's Cup, received the award on his behalf.

While presenting the award, President of CAT, Tarak Cherif, applauded the contribution of Governor Fashola to the development of tennis in Africa through the Governor's Cup, a circuit, which emerging stars across the world always look forward to every year since it became an International Tennis Federation, ITF event in 2003 when the dollar prize money was increased to improve its standard and participation status.

"The CAT is honouring the Lagos State Governor for consistently supporting the organisation of the Governor's Cup. The backing the championship received from Friends both individuals and corporate bodies started in 2000 in the time of Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom we also deservedly honoured in 2006," said Cherif.

Before the award was given, President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, who is also the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, read the citation preceding the award presentation.

He traced the life of Governor Fashola from his days at the University of Benin when he was a member of the school's soccer team, tennis and squash champion, which he still plays regularly to keep fit. He graduated with LLB honours as a Barrister in the University.

Ndanusa also mentioned that Fashola became the Chief of Staff to former Governor Tinubu in 2002 and he was appointed as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2005 before he was elected as the Governor of Lagos State in 2007, and re-elected in 2011.

The former Minister of Sports concluded his citation with special tributes to Governor Fashola's contribution to the development of tennis in Nigeria and indeed Africa.