Wahid Oshodi Makes History With Board Appointment, Becomes Africa’s First WTT Director

Nigeria’s Wahid Oshodi has broken new ground by becoming the first African appointed as a full director on the World Table Tennis (WTT) Board, the commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

His historic appointment was confirmed during the ITTF Executive Board meeting on March 1, 2026, at WTT Headquarters in Singapore.

Following portfolio allocations, ITTF President Petra Sörling and Executive Vice President Oshodi were named to represent ITTF on the WTT Board.

At the subsequent meeting, Sörling was confirmed as Chair, succeeding China’s Liu Guoliang and Qatar’s Khalil Al-Mohannadi.

ITTF emphasized that its majority ownership of WTT comes with the responsibility of ensuring sustainable value for the sport and its 227 Member Associations worldwide.

‘The ITTF has always been the foundation on which table tennis thrives, and WTT is our instrument to take it further,’ said Sörling.

‘As Chair of the Board, I am here to ensure that WTT operates with profitability, governance, accountability, and long-term vision. The potential is significant, and what we owe players, fans, and the broader table tennis community is the discipline to realise it.’

Oshodi, who also serves as President of ITTF Africa, underscored his commitment to strengthening governance.

‘Strong governance is what gives an organisation the structure to grow sustainably. I look forward to contributing to that work as the Board focuses on putting solid foundations in place for WTT’s long-term development,’ he said.

Since its creation in 2019, WTT has reshaped professional table tennis with a modern, commercially driven approach. Oshodi’s inclusion not only reinforces African representation in global sports governance but also highlights his role as a trailblazer within ITTF leadership.

His rise began as President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, where he introduced reforms to improve transparency, governance, and athlete development, with a strong emphasis on grassroots programmes.

Later, as ITTF Africa President, he amplified the continent’s voice globally, championing initiatives to expand access, raise coaching standards, and create pathways for African athletes to compete internationally.