While the recent the news that lkorodu has gained international recognition as the 3rd largest city in the Southwest region of Nigeria and the 12th overall in the country, is yet to die down, the effervescent city has attained yet another global recognition, this time around, through the remarkable exploits of a young son of the soil, Matthew Kuti who emerged champion in an international Cadet Table Tennis championship in faraway Cairo, Egypt.
He achieved the global feat on Sunday, October 30, 2022, when he defeated his opponent in the final match to win the U-13 championship, and followed that up by winning the U-11 championship on Monday, October 31, 2022.
Before forging ahead to conquer the world, the Ikorodu- born table tennis prodigy, had earlier dominated Table Tennis at the national level when he emerged champion at the Cadet and Mini-Cadet championships, with his sensational skills and prowess.
Also, in July this year, he won silver in the U-15 team event at the International Table Tennis Federation African Youth Championships in Tunisia.
As soon as the news of his victories filtered in, various social media platforms, particularly those related to lkorodu, were awashed with photographs of Mathew’s medal presentations in Cairo, while residents also posted congratulatory messages.
On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, the young Table Tennis champion was given a heroic welcome back to the country by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, and the lkorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS).
The first point of call for Mathew and his team, was the Ayangbure palace where he was warmly received personally by Oba Shotobi.
The monarch welcomed the young player and thanked him for making him, the entire people of Ikorodu Kingdom, Ikorodu Division and Lagos State and Nigeria in general proud with his exploits in the game at the international level.
He offered the young tennis player special prayer for more successes and achievements in his professional career.
He also charged him to extend the same commitment he has for table tennis to his education for him to be great in life, while he also presented cash gift to the table tennis prodigy to further encourage him.
From the Ayangbure Palace, Mathew was led to the IKODASS Secretariat located within the Ikorodu Ultra-Modern Town where it’s Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Erogbogbo and his team equally accorded him a rousing welcome.
While welcoming Mathew to the IKODASS office, Mr. Erogbogbo commended him for his feat on the international stage which he said has brought honour to Ikorodu and fame to the boy and his family.
At the event, Mr. Erogbogbo conferred on Mathew the IKODASS ‘Young Achievers Award’, and stated that the award would officially be conferred on him during the 2022 Ikorodu–Oga day Celebrations which starts Saturday, November 12 and ends Saturday, November 19.
Also present at the two events were members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu branch, Council of Baales and chieftains of the Lasunwon Ruling House and man