CelebratNigeriansNigerians Day with Golf Kitty

Over 250 members of the IBB Golf Club, members of the diplomatic corps as well as other invited guests yesterday commemorated Nigeria’s 55th Independence Day with an 18-hole golf tournament at IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

The Captain of IBB Club, Hamid Abbo officially teed off the tournament yesterday morning in the fourball completed by Affia Yaduma, Kabiru Alli and Lawrence Welle.

In order to avoid slow play due to the large turnout of golfers during the tournament which held in good weather conditions, the different group of players had to tee off on both the front and back tees.

In addition, a delegation of Ghanaian golfers from Achimota Golf Club, Accra, has started to arrive in the country for the international matchplay friendly which tees off tomorrow. Mark Edu is to lead the Ghanaians numbering 25 for the twoday matches.

Meanwhile, some of the Nigerian golfers took turns yesterday to speak on the significance of the day and the state of the game in Nigeria.

The vice captain of IBB Club Okey Igweh wants stakeholders to help in grooming young talents in the sport. “The tournament is to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration. But it is expedient we develop our sports, not only golf but all sports.

“All sports in Nigeria need funding. A small group of people play golf in Nigeria, it is not a sport that everybody plays and understands but what it does is that it opens door for people to network and interact.”

Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), a former captain of IBB Club also said “It has been the tradition of this club and most golfers around to celebrate the country by coming together. Our friends from Ghana are here also to celebrate with us today through the weekend.

“It is our prayers that Nigeria will continue to grow because we have a big promise for everybody that the future is great, but the future cannot be good if we don’t collectively effect positive change,” Gadzama said.