NGF unveils maiden Oba Elegushi Open to boost Nigerian golf

The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) has announced the inaugural edition of the Oba Elegushi Open Golf Championship, aiming to bolster competitive golf and create more opportunities for Nigerian players. NGF President Otunba Olusegun Runsewe revealed this at the second NGF Stakeholders and Golfers Summit in Abuja, where representatives from over 46 golf clubs and stakeholders gathered.

Runsewe highlighted that the championship would honor His Royal Highness, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, while promoting the sport and strengthening the competitive golfing structure in Nigeria. He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among golfers, clubs, government, sponsors, and private-sector investors to unlock Nigerian golf's potential.

Oba Elegushi, the Royal Father of the Day, warmly accepted the honor and praised the NGF for facilitating a discussion on golf's future. He urged golfers to stay united and uphold the game's ethics, stressing Nigeria's capacity to build world-class golf facilities with its population, talent, and private-sector resources. Elegushi challenged Nigerians to invest in domestic golf infrastructure instead of spending abroad.

He pledged his support to make the tournament successful and highlighted how sustained investment in golf could boost sports tourism, create employment, and contribute to the economy. Runsewe expressed gratitude to the NGF for naming the event after him and called on corporate organizations and potential sponsors to back the tournament and other golf development initiatives.

The summit, themed "Finding the Fairway: Sustainable Growth and Youth Development," discussed grassroots development, youth empowerment, governance, infrastructure, and Nigeria's international competitiveness in golf.