Bank explains decision to sponsor Ikoyi Club’s Unity Golf Tournament
NBBF promises to present Nigeria’s best at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
POLARIS Bank at the weekend explained that it decided to sponsor the forthcoming Ikoyi Club 1938 Unity Golf Tournament as part of its contributions to Nigeria’s sports development.
The three- day tournament will begin on Thursday when guests are expected to arrive in Lagos, while the event proper will tee- off on Friday and run through Saturday at the lush green of Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Course in Lagos.
The bank described the Unity Golf Tournament as one that promises to gather the very best golfers around the country in an atmosphere of unity through recreation and sports.
Speaking on the competition, the Acting Managing Director/ CEO of Polaris Bank, Mr. Innocent C. Ike, said the sponsorship of the tournament underscored the bank’s conviction on the role of sports and golf in particular, in enabling national unity, and socio- economic growth.
Mr. Ike described Ikoyi Club 1938 as an iconic brand that has transcended from being just a club for socialisation to a nursery for raising stars, who have gone ahead to get listed in World Amateur Golf Ranking. He added: “We are excited to partner with the Golf section and, by extension, the Ikoyi Club 1938 in hosting this tournament. Our conviction stems from the fact that Ikoyi Club Golf Section is a foremost Golf Association in Nigeria, and hence provides us the platform for bonding, business and social good”.
“As a future- determining Bank and an enabler of enterprise, we are always willing to be part of any social and business partnership that holds opportunities to the larger society,” he added.
Also speaking on the competition, newly elected Captain of the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club, Dr. M. I. Okoro, thanked the bank for supporting the tournament and expressed optimism that the partnership would strengthen the already existing relationship between the bank and the Ikoyi Club community.
THE Nigeria Basketball Federation ( NBBF) has advised the country’s basketball followers against speculations over the final men and women lists for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It said the call became necessary following self- declarations of top NBA players, who have pledged their support and international career to Nigerian Basketball programme.
The NBBF announced that no player is guaranteed an automatic shirt in the team based on many factors ranging from technical, tactical setup of the coaches as well as unforeseen circumstances such as injuries. NBBF President, Musa Kida said it is a golden era of basketball in Nigeria when everybody wants to be a part of history being written, adding, “Many high profiled players have started giving a thought to what D’tigers and D’tigress stand for. Many who would have turned us down in the past if invited are now hustling to get our attention, which for us is a good thing.
“The tide where Nigerians aspired to, and left the country has completely changed where qualified non- Nigerians have expressed interest in playing for Nigeria.”
With series of camps lined up for the D’tigers before the summer games in Tokyo, the NBBF assured that all eligible players have equal chances of getting invited to camp and making the final list.