Why I keep representing Nigeria without government support, by Quadri Aruna

Fifteen years ago, I arrived in Portugal to play as a professional table tennis player in the Portuguese Super League. Almost every weekend, I played league matches for my club, and internationally, I featured in at least one tournament a month with the support of Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi, the current President of the Africa Table Tennis Federation. His financial support helped me improve rapidly.

With zero support from the Nigerian government, I played 99% of my tournaments without a coach and travelled alone most of the time.

At the 2014 World Cup in Düsseldorf, my former sponsor (Joola) supported me with a German coach, Adomeit, while Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi paid for my flight and hotel. The coach’s presence helped me reach the quarter-finals.

Years later, the same Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi secured the only Nigerian sponsorship I have ever had — BABAIJEBU — for three years. That played an important role in my preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where I reached the quarter-finals.

Year after year, I kept playing without a coach because Nigeria refused to support me. If I featured in 12 tournaments in a year, Nigeria only paid for one — mostly an African tournament — while I self-sponsored the rest with the help of my sponsor, GEWO.

At the 2025 World Championships in Doha, I had to buy my own ticket because Nigeria refused to purchase it on time. I arrived in Doha days before my participation. I played my first two matches with Coach Dotun Omoniyi, and I felt totally comfortable with his words during play. After winning my first two matches, Nigeria said Coach Dotun could not continue because there was no money to change his flight, so he had to return to Nigeria. I later paid a friend from Togo to change his flight so he could coach me in the round of 32. With the help of Fanny from Togo as my coach, I reached the round of 16.

It is time — and very important — for Nigeria to start investing in young players to enable them to attend tournaments regularly.

Thanks to everyone for the support over the years.

God bless Nigeria.