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Jeremiah Ikoko, an employee of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has emerged the winner of the just concluded 6th Ships & Ports Table Tennis Championship held at the Apapa Club in Lagos on Saturday. The annual event which is aimed at fostering good interaction and networking between maritime industry workers was sponsored by Dangote Ports Operations and the Nigerian Shippers Council. In opening the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Ships & Ports, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, reaffirmed the aims of the championship and expressed his hopes for good sportsmanship between teams. On ground to officiate and ensure all fairness throughout the course of the competition were certified umpires drawn from the Table Tennis Umpires Association of Nigeria. About sixty participants from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT), Lagos Channel Management (LCM), Dangote Port Operations, Bollore Shipping, ENL Consortium and the Maritime Microfinance Bank (MMFB) amongst others competed for a chance to come out on top at the end of the day. But like most competitions there was only one 1st place trophy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were more than proud to have their staff lift it at the end of the one-day event. For finishing in first place after a thrilling bout with Amebe, Ikoko was handed the cash prize of N100,000. Amebe, on the other hand, received the second place cash prize of N50,000, while third place winner Otaru was handed the N30,000 cash prize after he defeated Borokini. Speaking on the success of the event, Ikoko thanked the organizers for a job well done. “I appreciate Ships & Ports for taking the pains to organize this event; it is a welcome development. This is the second time I am participating. Last year the players were fewer; we were not up to 30. This year, more people turned up,” he said. “The standard of play has also improved. I believe this championship will go further in the next two years. I am convinced more people from NIMASA will participate in next year’s event.” Ikoko added. Fellow cash prize winner Otaru, also had his lot to add in thanking organizers for the success of the event. “This championship is a good gesture which we all appreciate. My employers appreciate sports; they believe it encourages mental alertness. I saw it in the paper for the first time last year and was encouraged by a colleague to participate. Surprisingly, I won the cash prize.” He said. “Ships & Ports is doing a great job; the fact that they increased the prize money is responsible for the large turnout. If it continues like this, we would need bigger space. They would have to start thinking in that direction,” Otaru added.
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This article was first published on 1st March 2018

achem

Achem Samuel is a writer and a musician, he is passionate about God and also an ardent fan of tech, sports and music.

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