President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Abuja, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has said the 2023 West & Central Africa Challenge Golf Trophy will be an opportunity to showcase Nigeria to the rest of Africa and the world.
While commending LGAN for taking up the challenge to organise a competition which has attracted golfers from the West Africa sub-region, Runsewe said the event could not have come at a better time as the participants will know that Nigeria is a peaceful and safe country.
“First and foremost, I will like to commend the organisers of this programme because every opportunity we have to showcase our country we have to take full advantage of it. The West & Central Africa Challenge Trophy coming up is a World golfing sanctioned event and a welcome development for us to welcome no fewer than 10 African countries at this time.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time with the kind of stories that have been written about Nigeria in recent times. So, if the golfing community can make a difference, why not? So for me, it is a welcome development and we are excited to be hosting over 10 countries in Lagos,” Runsewe stated.
He added that the golf challenge was also coming at a very important time when Nigeria was celebrating its 63rd Independence Anniversary.
“We may not have a better opportunity to showcase our country. The participants will be staying in our hotels, using our cars, shops and eating the different delicacies that our country has to offer as well as taking advantage of our investment opportunities to promote trade.
“It is a big opportunity to tell outsiders about Nigeria especially that the country is safer than what they are reading on the internet. It is indeed a welcome development in promoting not only our rich heritage but also the country’s golfers and we look forward to a successful event.”
Runsewe said the NGF is not only committed to ensuring that the tournament was a success but that the Federation would collaborate with the Ministry of Sports Development to give the event total support.
No fewer than 10 countries including Gabon, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Benin, Senegal and host Nigeria are taking part in the tournament which will hold at the exotic Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate and Resort in Lagos from 3rd to 7th October, 2023.
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