Lagos November 2, 2011: Etisalat Nigeria has received accolades from the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, for its support towards the success of the 11th edition of Governor's Cup, Lagos Tennis tournament. Fashola, an amiable sports lover and sportsman per excellence graced the closing ceremony of the tournament which held between the 14th and 29th of October 2011.

He said, “Corporate organizations like Etisalat should not relent in their efforts towards sustaining the passion for sporting activities and the game of tennis in particular, because the reward for identifying with such activities will yield fruit future”.

Commenting on the success of the tournament, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar, said that the company was pleased at the opportunity offered to them to be a part of the great competition which brings together players from different countries.

Ammar further observed that sports would always be a unifying passion in Nigeria and for Nigerians, and commended the efforts of the organizers of the tournament, for drawing attention to other sporting activities besides football. According to him, “We are using platforms such as this as a demonstration of our support for the development of a vibrant sports sector in Nigeria”.

This year’s competition witnessed participation of over 40 countries around the world. Total prize money increased from $43000 to $80000 (approximately 12 million naira), and this has further increased interest and foreign participation in the game.

A two-time winner of the doubles event, Nigerian Babalola Abdulmuminu, combined with Senegalese, Daouda Ndiaya, lost to the duo of French man, Paterme Mamata and Vaja Uvakov of Uzebkstan. The women's single of the competition had Donna Vekic from Croatia and Tamaryn Hendler from Belgium, in the finals, with Hendler taking the win in a set that ended 6-4 and 7-5, in favour of Hendler. Ecstatic father, Mark Hendler was overwhelmed with joy, adding that he believed his daughter would come out tops, as she had been training 2-3hours each day for the competition. The male's single finals were between Kamil Capkovic from Slovakia and Vijayant Malik (India) with the former coming out tops, in 2 sets of 2-6 and 5-7.

Music crooner, DJ Zeez, and 1st runner up, Etisalat Nigerian Idols, Naomi Mac, were on hand to add glamour to the event, with Naomi rendering the National anthem in a sonorous voice that got the spectators applauding. The younger ones were not left out of the event, as various secondary schools were represented. They include Reagan Memorial Girls Secondary school, Queen’s College, Our Lady of Apostles, Igbobi Boys College, Aunty Ayo international school, Ikoyi, Kings College, amongst others.

The Governor's Cup Lawn Tennis Championship is an initiative of the Lagos State Government that started in the year 2000 and has been hosted annually by the Nigerian Tennis Foundation and backed by the full support of the Lagos State Governor and Etisalat Nigeria as Chief Sponsor of the event for the third consecutive year.