---as Chairman, Bro Gasper reaffirms commitment to heritage, excellence
By Kayode Olopade
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has charged members of the historic institution to preserve its founding ideals while embracing innovation, inclusiveness and youth leadership as it enters its second century.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Tuesday at the Centenary Anniversary Day celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos, where he delivered an anniversary lecture titled, “Democracy, Governance and the Lagos Spirit: A Century of Excellence.”
The governor described the club’s 100-year journey as a reflection of the values that have shaped Lagos’ civic, cultural and democratic traditions, urging members to see the milestone not merely as a celebration of longevity, but as an opportunity for reflection, remembrance and renewed commitment to the institution’s founding mission.
He recalled that the club was established on September 15, 1926, when pioneer members gathered at 75 Tokunbo Street, Lagos Island, to change the name of their newly established Orelodun Tennis Club to Yoruba Tennis Club.
According to him, the founding of the club was driven by the determination of Nigerians to create their own social institution at a time when the European Club in Lagos did not admit Nigerians.
Sanwo-Olu said the decision represented an assertion of indigenous identity and a commitment to building an institution that would serve its members while contributing to the social development of Lagos.
He described the founding spirit as consistent with the “Lagos Spirit” — a combination of courage, creativity, self-belief, openness and an enduring commitment to improvement.
The governor linked the club’s history to Lagos’ wider role in Nigeria’s political and democratic development, recalling the establishment of the Nigerian National Democratic Party in 1923 by Herbert Macaulay, a founding member of the club.
He also referenced the city’s early local government administration and the landmark Amodu Tijani land case as examples of Lagos’ contributions to Nigeria’s democratic and judicial traditions.
Turning to governance, Sanwo-Olu identified vision, self-reliance, partnership and a focus on the welfare of ordinary citizens as four habits that have shaped Lagos’ development.
He commended the continuity of the development blueprint initiated under the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999, noting that successive administrations had built on the same long-term vision.
The governor said such continuity had enabled the state to undertake major infrastructure and development projects, including the Blue and Red Line rail systems, which he described as the first rail services built and operated by a sub-national government in Nigeria.
He also highlighted Lagos’ reliance on internally generated revenue, describing the state’s fiscal reforms as evidence of its capacity to mobilise resources from its own people to meet development needs.
On partnership, he cited the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, the Bus Rapid Transit system and the Lekki Free Trade Zone as examples of how government and the private sector could work together to achieve ambitious goals.
Sanwo-Olu said the ultimate measure of governance was not the size of government offices or the prominence of political leaders, but the effect of public policies on ordinary residents.
He referenced the THEMES agenda of his administration, including traffic management, health, education, economic development, tourism, security and governance, as a framework for addressing the needs of Lagosians.
The governor also highlighted the state’s investments in public universities, agriculture, digital infrastructure, healthcare and the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub.
Speaking on the role of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Sanwo-Olu described social clubs and professional associations as important civic institutions that complement government by promoting leadership, mentorship, sportsmanship, networking and responsible citizenship.
He said the club’s ability to remain relevant for a century was linked to its capacity to adapt to changing times without abandoning its founding ideals.
He urged members to continue expanding the club’s sporting, cultural and intellectual activities, while maintaining its openness to the public and contributing to national discourse through its lecture series and other engagements.
The governor cautioned that change must be purposeful, stressing that institutions should not abandon valuable legacies merely for the sake of novelty.
Call for Youth Inclusion
As the club enters its second century, Sanwo-Olu called for greater attention to young members and their participation in leadership.
He observed that the pioneers who established the club were mostly in their twenties and thirties, urging the current generation to create opportunities for younger people to contribute to the institution’s future.
Quoting the Yoruba maxim, “Ọmọdé gbọ́n, àgbà gbọ́n, ni a fi dá Ilé-Ifẹ̀,” the governor emphasised the importance of combining the wisdom of the young and the old in building enduring institutions.
He encouraged young Lagosians to embrace enterprise, creativity and the courage to build new ventures, declaring that the city’s progress had always depended on people willing to create solutions rather than wait for opportunities to be handed to them.
Sanwo-Olu further advised the club to maintain high standards in its membership process, preserve its archives and use modern methods to tell the story of its founding fathers and its contributions to Lagos.
Earlier in his opening address, the Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Bro Chief Olawumi Gasper, mni, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage, promoting fellowship and contributing to the social, economic and civic development of Lagos State.
Gasper described the centenary as a landmark occasion in the history of the club and its enduring relationship with Lagos, saying the institution had remained a symbol of friendship, brotherly love, tradition, culture and community leadership.
“When the Yoruba Tennis Club was founded in 1926, Lagos was a very different city. Colonial rule shaped the social and institutional landscape, and racial barriers limited the participation of Nigerians in several spheres of public and social life,” he said.
The chairman noted that rather than accept the limitations of their circumstances, the founding fathers chose to build an institution that would outlive the conditions that gave birth to it.
He added that the club had not merely witnessed history but had been an active participant in the historical evolution of Lagos, maintaining its relevance through colonial rule, independence, changing governments and the transformation of Lagos into a major African centre of commerce, culture and innovation.
Gasper paid tribute to the founding fathers, past chairmen, elders and members of the club who had contributed to its development over the decades, noting that members had distinguished themselves in business, government, law, medicine, academia, engineering, diplomacy, sports and other fields.
Beyond individual accomplishments, he said, the enduring strength of the club lay in its fellowship, which had transformed relationships into friendships, friendships into brotherhood and brotherhood into a platform for shared responsibility.
“Today, we honour those who came before us. We remember with gratitude the brethren who have passed on, whose names remain part of our institutional memory. And to our elders who are with us today, we say: Thank you for preserving what you inherited and handing it to us with dignity,” he said.
The chairman described the relationship between the Yoruba Tennis Club and Lagos as a continuing partnership, noting that the city’s transformation over the past century had been accompanied by the club’s own growth and contributions to the economic, professional, cultural and civic development of the state.
He urged members to ensure that the club’s heritage remained a living legacy rather than merely a subject of celebration.
“Our founding fathers gave us a foundation. Our predecessors gave us continuity. Our responsibility is to give the future possibility,” Gasper said.
Centenary Activities
The celebration featured the centenary anniversary lecture, presentation and launching of the anniversary history book, the turning of the sod for the proposed Legacy Building, and an exhibition of 100 years of historical and archival materials.
Welcoming Governor Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Chief Launcher, Bro Chief Dr Kesington Adebutu, GCON, KJW, represented by Bro Engr Kola Oyefeso, and other distinguished guests, Gasper commended the governor’s administration for its infrastructure and development initiatives.
He described Sanwo-Olu as a progressive and inspirational leader, a public sector reformer and an advocate of people-centred development, adding that the anniversary lecture offered an opportunity to examine the relationship between democracy, governance and the growth of Lagos.
The chairman expressed appreciation to the governor, the Deputy Governor, the Board of Trustees, past chairmen, elders, members of the diplomatic community, academia, the media and other guests for honouring the invitation.
He also warmly welcomed the governor, whom he described as a technocrat in politics, a gentleman in the service of Lagosians and a leader whose achievements had earned him the affectionate appellations “Mr Saleable,” “Mr Talk and Do” and “Mr Infrastructure.”
The governor, who is expected to leave office in a few months, also used the occasion to reflect on his impending transition from public office.
He said he hoped to return to the club more frequently as “Bro. Babajide,” without the formalities of public office, and resume his place on the tennis courts.
Sanwo-Olu urged members to see themselves as custodians of the club’s legacy and co-authors of the next chapter in Lagos’ development.
He concluded by expressing the hope that future members would gather in 2126 to celebrate the club’s bicentennial anniversary and look back with pride on the contributions of the present generation.
“Happy centenary, brethren. Long may this house stand,” he said, while wishing the Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos State and Nigeria continued progress.
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