Ladies in Sports International (LIS) has officially announced the launch of the Women Tennis Invitational, a landmark tournament set to shatter domestic records by awarding a historic ₦4 million winner’s prize—the highest-ever payout for a women’s tennis competition in Nigeria.
Scheduled to take place from December 14 to 16, 2026, at the prestigious Lagos Country Club, Ikeja GRA, the elite event will gather the top eight ranked female tennis players in the country. The tournament is designed to elevate sporting excellence, expand athletes’ earning potential, and spark deeper private-sector investment in women’s sports.
This unprecedented cash prize marks a vital turning point for domestic tennis, addressing the long-standing challenge of low financial returns for athletes competing locally.
By setting a new financial benchmark, LIS aims to stimulate a broader national conversation on the commercial viability of elite women’s sports and the crucial role corporate organizations can play in building a sustainable sports economy. Furthermore, the event offers progressive brands a unique platform to connect with audiences while supporting homegrown athletes and inspiring the next generation of girls in sports.
Elaborating on the vision behind the initiative, LIS founder Tega Onojaife emphasized that systemic backing must match raw ability. She noted that while Nigeria boasts extraordinary athletic talent, dedication alone cannot sustain a professional career without adequate prize money, consistent sponsorships, and a viable livelihood.
Onojaife stressed that elite sports can no longer rely solely on personal sacrifices, urging private enterprises to view sports as a strategic business, a powerful branding tool, and a catalyst for social impact so local athletes no longer feel forced to leave the country in search of a future.
To secure this vision, LIS is issuing a clarion call to Corporate Nigeria—spanning banking, telecommunications, energy, technology, and consumer goods—to champion women’s sports through long-term strategic partnerships rather than one-off sponsorships.
Such investments are vital for upgrading tournament standards, boosting player welfare, expanding media visibility, and creating a robust professional ecosystem.
The inaugural edition of the Women Tennis Invitational stands as a bold blueprint of what can be achieved when elite talent meets deliberate, professional investment.
