Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Charges Ikorodu LG, LCDAs on appreciating residents
Following the emergence of the Ikorodu – born table tennis national champion as the winner of the 2025 men’s category of the Molade Okoya Table Tennis Championship, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL) has appreciated his exploit with a golden handshake and materials.
He was presented with a cheque of N100, 000, for his continuous efforts in advancing the table tennis game, positively promoting Ikorodu and to support him to further in his career development.
Presenting the cheque, the Executive Secretary, IDPIL, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, further pledged the group’s support in future to Kuti’s career development, while also charging the Ikorodu Local Government Chairman, and his counterparts in the other five Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to always appreciate residents doing good and promoting the good image of Ikorodu Division.
Mathew Kuti, who is currently the national champion was hosted at the Conference Room of the IDPIL at its Ita – Elewa, Ikorodu headquarters’ office on Wednesday.
“On our platform yesterday (Tuesday), I made submissions in respect of one of our children that is making Ikorodu proud. He is a young guy who has been trying his best to put the name of Ikorodu in the world sports’ map. He is an indigene of Ikorodu.
“This will be his second time that he will be winning the Molade Okoya Thomas Table Tennis Championship.
“We believe for a young man who has personally worked so hard to get to the level he has attained, we must celebrate such character.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think Ikorodu people have really done enough for him; to appreciate his singular effort in bringing the name of Ikorodu onto the map of sports.
“We want to use this medium to appeal to our chairmen in local government council and LCDAs, that we must not allow this kind of a thing to go without being appreciated. This is a young man that owned the championship about two years or so ago, and again just of recent, he won the trophy again,” Otunba Abiru submitted.
While stating that this is just the beginning to where the youngster is going in his table tennis career, Otunba Abiru pledged that IDPIL will continue to mentor and support him in his career progression.
“As an organisation that is desirous of encouraging our youth to greater heights, we feel that it is very necessary and very appropriate to appreciate and commend this young man, Matthew Kuti.
“I want to say this is the beginning of many things to come to his life. He is a national champion. I doubt if there is anybody in Nigeria today that can defeat him in the field of table tennis.
“I also commend his coach, who also is the father. He doubles as the coach and father. I must commend you sir, you have done very well. You have tutored, coached and encouraged him.
“I want to give you an assurance that IDPIL will continue to mentor and monitor his progress, and in every way we can be of assistance, we will do.”
Otunba Abiru recalled the events which had spurred the organisation’s well -meaning intervention,
“At the IDPIL, we will continue to monitor your progress, your career, and in any possible way we can be of assistance, again, we will not hesitate to offer our support. I read in the news (THE IMPACT) that you had an opportunity some time ago for international competitions, but unfortunately, you could not attend because of lack of funds.
“We will try to look at that and if there is anything we can do whenever you have the opportunity again, you can call on us and we will definitely be of assistance. We will surely offer our assistance.”
“The IDPIL executive secretary challenged the Lagos State Sports Council to support the young table tennis star’s development. Otunba Abiru who was a retired Permanent Secretary with the Lagos State Government, further called out the Ikorodu LG Chairman on the need to further encourage residents that are doing great to sustain the positive energy, especially the young ones.
“We want to use this medium to call on Sport Council, Ministry of Sports and particularly the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government. This is one boy the local government should encourage, this is one sports guy that I believe the local governments should collectively celebrate.
“If we celebrate him, and we celebrate our young ones that are doing wonderfully well, indirectly or directly, we are encouraging them to be good citizens of not only Ikorodu but good citizens of the nation and good citizens of the world.
“On behalf of the chairman and members of the IDPIL, I want to really congratulate you. I congratulate you so much and I wish you progress and many more.
“We will give a donation of N100, 000, to encourage you. This will not be the last that we are going to do for you. Like I said, whenever you need us or whenever you want us to do one thing or the other you can contact Mr Adelabu (THE IMPACT publisher), he will get in touch with us and you can rest assured that we will help you.
“Once again, we want to encourage you. We want to let you know that IDPIL is solidly behind you, and the sky is your stepping stone and we wish you the best. We wish you more success. We wish you blessings, and we wish you divine favour from Almighty God.”
Speaking with THE IMPACT before returning to his base in Abuja, Matthew Kuti was very thankful of the honour done to him and the financial support given by the IDPIL.
He also appreciated the future support pledged by the IDPIL.
“I feel fulfilled and immensely grateful that I am being honoured in my home town. I was not expecting this, but this would further encourage and motivate me to do more and bring more glory to Ikorodu, Lagos State, and Nigeria as a whole.
“I look forward to future support as pledged by the IDPIL and I thank them for all that they do.”
Responding to the IDPIL charge to both the state and Ikorodu Local Government, the national champion thanked the state government for its support so far, and added, “It will be a great boost for me if I receive more support from the state and my local government.”
The IDPIL chieftains at the brief ceremony were Otunba (Sir) Ayodele Elesho, former Commissioner for Information, Lagos State and the Agbaakin of Ikorodu, Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Lagos State, Revd. (Col.) Titilola Onafowokan, oldest PhD holder and Mr Taiwo Salami Awolaru, Administrative Secretary, IDPIL among others.
