By Victor Okoye
Olusegun Runsewe, the President, Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), has expressed gratitude to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), Scotland for their donation of golf equipment to the NGF.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Runsewe made the remarks on Thursday, during the unveiling of the golf equipment at the Golf and Health Signature in Abuja
The NGF President noted that the equipment worth would go a long way in ensuring the growth and development of the sport at the grassroots.
He expressed his appreciation to the R & A for the kind donations, promising that the donated items would be put to good use.
“As of today, there is no single golfer representing Nigeria in the Masters Open in Augusta.
“But I promise you that from what we have started here today, in the next two years, you will start to hear about the Okafors, the Chidinmas, the Abubakars, the Olademejis, just like you hear in international football,” he said.
He also shared his long-term vision, which focuses on budding talent discovery and encouraging more female participation in the sport.
“The entire Europe has one of the best youth golf development programmes in the history of the world.
“As a matter of fact, over 23 per cent of golfers in the U.S. now are ladies and young children.
“Our projection is to take ladies and youth participation in golf to at least 15 per cent in Nigeria.
“With renewed support from international bodies such as R & A and a clear roadmap for development such as what we have at the NGF, we are positioning golf for a stronger future.
“Our goal is not just to grow the sport locally, but to also nuture champions who can compete on the global stage,” he said.
Runsewe who doubles as a Board of Trustees member at the IBB International Golf and Country Club (IBBIGCC), Abuja, said he would not relent in his efforts to make golf a leading sport in the country, adding that plans were ongoing to sponsor some talents for golf training programmes abroad.
He added that part of his goal was to create a new economy around golf, leveraging the estimated $4 billion expected to circulate in African golf in 2025.
Earlier, Shola Fayoyiwa, a deputy director in the NSC, who represented Dikko, said Runsewe’s dedication to promoting golf at the grassroots level has been evident in his initiatives to increase participation and develop the sport nationwide.
Fayoyiwa noted that the NGF’s efforts in revitalising the game of golf in Nigeria and making the country to be competitive and global golf stage, and preparing the country to reap the benefits of international golf tournaments and investments was highly commendable.
“Before we have anybody representing the country at the international level, we must identify them.
“Also, if we want to identify any talents at the grassroots, we must have the equipment.
“So, we are at the NSC are excited about what the NGF is doing to attract the attention of the international community to the grassroots development of golf in the country.
“The donation by the R & A is a welcome development and one we encourage other federations to explore as we look forward to more collaborations and sponsorships from other international bodies in this regard,” Dikko said.
Other NGF board members and stakeholders present at the ceremony also corroborated the President’s views on the need for grassroots development of the sport in the country.
They noted that NSC’s commendation further validates and acknowledges Runsewe’s efforts to promote golf development in Nigeria.
Other stakeholders at the ceremony were the NGF Vice President and Captain of GEJ Golf Club, AVM B.D. Solomon, Mrs Ekanem Ekwueme, the AACT Trustee for the West & Central Africa, Mrs Bose Ngozi Onwuegbu, the South West zonal representative at the NGF, and a representative of the President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), Evelyn Oyome.
The rest were; Ali Peters, the Vice Captain, and representative of the Captain of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Maj.- Gen. Samson Jiya, the representative of the Captain of I.E. Ibas Golf Club, Rear Admiral Julius Nwagwu, Maryam Shehu, a member of IBBIGCC, and Monday Itiola, the NGF Secretary-General.(NAN)