Solange Ngonda Tibesa, a Ogoja based Cameroonian refugee will be representing Nigeria at the fifth edition of the World Table Tennis Day 2025 event.
The WTTD 2025 is an event that is supported by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) to promote the development of the game of table tennis at the grassroots level all over the world.
According to the ITTF, “30 promoters were selected for World Table Tennis Day (WTTD) 2025, representing 27 countries and territories across all 5 continents. These passionate individuals will play a pivotal role in uniting communities and sharing the joy of table tennis on 23rd April 2025.”
A record 160 persons applied to be considered as a WTTD 2025, promoters, out of which Solange and 29 other applicants from 27 counties and 5 continents applied to be considered.
Furthermore, the ITTF stated that they will provide Solange and the other promoters, with the financial assistance, capacity-building resources, and personalised guidance to align their initiatives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the theme of diversity and inclusion.
Solange, who is currently a full-time staff of Save the Children, is also a trained netball coach, who supervises the compulsory twice a week training of the more than thirty netballers that are based at the Adagom 3 refugee camp.
During a telephone interview with journalists, Solange, stated that on 23rd April 2025, she and the Ogoja refugees table tennis organising committee hope to hold the event in the Adagom 1, Adagom 3 and Ukende camps. Over one thousand persons are expected to attend this event in the three separate refugee camps. The event will be spiced up with table tennis challenge, live music, health and well-being talks, and some light refreshment for the spectators.
Furthermore, Solange stated, “as an experienced community worker, I know the important role sports can play in bringing people together and giving them the opportunities to compete with each other under set rules, in a respectful manner.
“I am also aware that sports could be used to empower and provide psychosocial support to vulnerable persons, including the physically challenged. We hope to use the game of table tennis to reach out to my fellow Cameroonians and members of our host community in Ogoja.”
Finally, Solange commended CSED (Community Sports and Educational Development) Initiative, for bringing the WTTD 2025 grant advertisement to her attention and encouraging her to apply for WTTD 2025.
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