Victoria Mbangwa
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland, has donated a consignment of golf equipment to the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), a move expected to significantly boost grassroots development of the sport in the country.
The donation was officially unveiled on Thursday in Abuja, in a ceremony attended by key stakeholders including representatives of the National Sports Commission (NSC), which lauded the NGF’s efforts at expanding the reach of golf to underrepresented areas and nurturing future talents.
Speaking on behalf of NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, Deputy Director Shola Fayoyiwa praised NGF President Olusegun Runsewe for his commitment to repositioning golf from an elite pastime to an inclusive national sport. Fayoyiwa highlighted that access to proper equipment is a crucial first step toward identifying and grooming local talents who can eventually compete on the international stage.
“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.” He said, “So, we are at the NSC are very excited about what the NGF is doing to attract the attention of the international community to the grassroots development of golf in the country.
Fayoyiwa also encouraged other sports federations to seek out international partnerships that could yield similar support for grassroots initiatives, stressing that such collaborations can help unlock Nigeria’s sporting potential.
In his remarks, Runsewe reaffirmed his vision of turning golf into a tool for national development and economic empowerment. He revealed that some of the young talents discovered through NGF programs will soon be sponsored for international training.
“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,” Runsewe stated.
He also expressed appreciation to both the R&A and the NSC for their support, promising that the donated equipment would be distributed strategically to golf academies and training centers across the country.
Runsewe’s vision for grassroots golf has already begun attracting attention, and with international support like that of the R&A, the NGF’s dream of placing Nigeria on the global golf map may not be far off.
