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Duke Invests in Future Champions: Cross River Table Tennis Boss Covers Tuition for 24 Young Athletes



In a major boost to grassroots sports development and youth empowerment, the Chairman of the Cross River State Table Tennis Association, Orok Otu Duke, has fully paid the school fees for 24 table tennis players across the state. The disbursements, completed on Monday, September 28, 2026, underline a strong commitment to ensuring that athletic development does not come at the expense of formal education.

The scholarship beneficiaries span all levels of the educational system, supporting six primary school pupils, 13 secondary school students, two undergraduates in higher institutions, and three candidates awaiting their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results.

Addressing the beneficiaries in Calabar, Duke emphasized the importance of a dual-career approach, urging the young athletes to show equal dedication to their academic work and training schedules.

"The payment of your school fees is aimed at giving you the opportunity to pursue your education while developing your sporting careers," said Duke. "We want to see true champions emerge from this group—athletes who excel both in the classroom and on the table."

Duke cited Nigerian table tennis icons such as Offiong Edem, Adam, and Cecilia as examples of stars who started from humble beginnings and reached national prominence through discipline and hard work. In addition to covering tuition, Duke pledged that the association would continue providing monthly stipends to the players to support their ongoing welfare and competition preparations.

Commending the initiative, the Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Lawrence Etta, highlighted the gesture as a model for holistic athlete care.

"Orok Otu Duke has demonstrated that athlete welfare must extend beyond the sporting arena," Etta stated. "Sporting success should never cost a child their education. I praise his consistent efforts—including infrastructure improvements like installing solar lighting at the state stadium—and urge leaders of other sports associations across Cross River State to adopt similar initiatives."

The Cross River State Table Tennis Association remains committed to building a sustainable pipeline of sports talent through education, structured training, and long-term youth investment.

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