Fada Pita Charity Tennis was started by Rev. Father Peter Muojekwu in the year 2003. Fr Peter hails from Achara Amakom Osumenyi in Nnewi South LGA, Anambra state. He was ordained a Catholic Priest on August 18th 2001. He belongs to the Catholic diocese of Nnewi.
Fada Pita Charity Tennis previously known as Fada Pita Tennis was started as a social organization with charity in mind. The initiator, Fr Peter started the get together to bring together like minds, especially tennis players, to join him as he celebrates the feast of his Patron saints Peter and Paul, the feast he loved to celebrate even as a minor seminarian. His first official posting as a priest was to St John Cross Egbo Uruagu Nnewi to serve as a Vicar in 2oo2. The Parish was closer to Ichi Honda Sports club where he goes more often because of its proximity. He incidentally inspired the original members of the club who were lagging behind to come back to court.
Thus, in 2003, he organized a tournament between the Priests and the members of Ichi Honda Sports Club. Hence, with the success of this first attempt, he was encouraged to continue the project by including other nearby clubs to join and take turns. In 2004, the tournament was held at Nnewi Sports club with Ichi Honda Sports club, Beverly Hills Recreation club and the Priests in contest. The success was unimaginable, thanks to the then President of the club, Mr. Gozie Akudolu; Mr. Christopher Nnama and Mr. Gabriel Edoziuno; the then C. & N., Nigeria limited (the first company to support the organization).
In 2005, Beverly Hills Recreation club was the venue for the event. The event was witnessed by the last year’s contestants. The event was blessed with the presence of the Catholic bishop of Nnewi diocese, numerous priests and many others.
It was in 2006 that the one day event was extended to a two weeks celebration courtesy of Chief Ignatius Nnubia a friend to Fr. Peter and a philanthropist. There was a little increase in the number of clubs in attendance. The new intakes were Rojenny Sports Club and Ide Memorial Lawn Tennis Ihembosi – the venue for the 4th edition.
In 2007, the organization made her first outing outside Nnewi Local government to Idemili local government. The turnout was even more impressive. At this venue, a new introduction of giving trophy and cash rewards to the winners was introduced. Thus, with the massive turnout, and the growing interest, the fear of not being able to have enough food and drinks and gifts for the attendants grew. That made the initiator, Fr. Peter to invite clubs to join in sponsoring the tournament by taking turns. This idea was immediately welcomed by Sir Jude Mbaebgu the then President of Rojenny Sports Club on behalf of other participating clubs.
In 2008 and 2009, there were more noticeable improvements. In 2008, the first club sponsored was started by Nnewi Sports club led by the President Mr. Polycarp Okoro, by providing food and drinks while Fr. Peter provided the rest. 2009, was like a home coming to Ichi Honda Sports Club, who hosted the official inauguration ceremony. During the official inauguration there was an installation. Most Rev. Hilary Odili Okeke, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi was installed as the Grand Patron of the association. The foundation Patrons were Chief Jude Mbaegbu; Chief Gozie Akudolu; Chief I. G Nnubia; Chief Christopher Nnama and Chief Peter Ekechukwu. We also installed six people as associate members. We also appointed and instituted some people as organizers of the project. The committee was made up of seven capable men led by Deacon Herbert Ohans, a certified tennis coach. There was fund raising, and the money raised was used in the opening of our first account with Chukwunenye Community Bank Nnewi.
With the formation of this group and the installations, comes a hope of sustainability. The first challenge for the committee was to respond to the demand made by the initiator during his address on the day of inauguration which included, finding a better name that will best suite the organization. Secondly, the best modalities and the best period for the tournament were also to be looked into. The organizers later came up with the following resolutions: The name remains Fada Pita (Charity) Tennis with a slight change or inclusion of ‘’Charity’’ to express the mission of the founder, while the period for the celebration remains the Saturday closer to the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul to keep the intention on. The period could be extended to accommodate eventual rains, since June is raining season in Nigeria.
However, in 2010, the closing ceremony was held at Beverly Hills Recreation Club. The initiator at the closing ceremony added some side attractions, apart from his usual provision of gifts to the less privilege and to the attendants; he also invited the National Tennis Wheelchair players from Lagos who entertained the audience with their tennis display.
In 2011, we had our first opening ceremony at Nnewi Sports club. The first official opening ceremony was flagged off by Mgr. Hypolite Adigwe, the then National Director of the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) in Nigeria. The closing ceremony that year was at Rojenny Recreation Club Oba. This was witnessed by much more people, thanks to the power of media.
In 2012, the opening ceremony was done by Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Ezeobata at the People’s Lawn Tennis Court Onitsha. The 10th anniversary celebration of the charity organization took place at Nnewi Sports club at the closing of that year’s edition. The occasion was marked with the provision of gifts to the member sports clubs and some institutions. The physically disabled and the motherless babies were not left out. Thus, the opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies had continued rotating to member clubs.
In 2015 we had our first international recognition when the initiator, Fr Peter Muojekwu who went for studies in America received an award on the 21st edition of Archbishop P. Lyke, O.F.M. African Male Image Awards. The award by the members of Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Chicago on March 1st 2015 was as a result of the charity organization’s contribution to the society. The organization had branch in the United States of America since 2015. We registered Fada Pita Sports Foundation to aid us in promoting sports in general and also to support the Tennis Academy in Nigeria, with the provision of tennis materials, and other facilities. It will also help the organization to take a better care of the less privilege kids in their studies.
The Sports foundation also organizes annual summer tennis program since 2016 for the kids in Chicago with the aim of bringing them out of the street. Secondly, Fada Pita Charity Organization was registered to help us meet with our general mission of reaching out to the neediest. Interestingly, Fada Pita Charity Tennis in Nigeria stands as a mother and link between the U.S organization and the people of Nigeria and Africa in general. Each branch has its mission and vision but all are aimed at bringing a helping hand to the neediest; and restoring hope to the hopeless; thus the motto remains: Evangelizing through sports.
The organization had continued to offer help to different institutions that cater for the physically disabled, motherless babies with the provision of wheelchairs, walkers, clutches and so on. They also supply food, clothes, and cash to the neediest. She also organizes free annual medical Checks and annual Christmas party for kids. Kids from their tennis academy have already started winning trophies in the state. The organization owns much gratitude to the members of Nnewi Sports club who provide the space for the academy. The Organization had intention of erecting a big and modern park for people’s recreation. We plan to build our head quarter and a recreational park in Nigeria. This will be the training ground for their students from Nnewi and its environs.
Finally, we are grateful to God for the association’s rapid growth. Thanks to the people of like minds, the organizers and the stakeholders who remained resolute to succeed. We are grateful to our partner companies Chikki Foods Industry who had remained our sponsor and Viking Quality Brand distributed by Joncod Nig. LTD and Cutix Cable PLC.
Notably, Fada Pita Charity stands as a unifier. It galvanizes clubs to be united in doing charity and getting closer to one another. Thus, any individual with Fada Pita Charity Identity card could play at any of the member clubs.
