…as 65 golfers storm Osun for Badmus 80th birthday

By Shina Abubakar Osogbo

Government at all levels has been tasked to ensure more investment in the development of golf with a view to developing talents available in the country.

Speaking at a celebrity competition held to celebrate the 80th birthday of Chief Tunde Badmus at MicCom Golf club, its Manager, Liadi Jayeola said Nigeria has abundant talents capable of becoming world-class golfers.

He noted that golf should not be seen only as a game for the elite, adding that young people across the country can benefit immensely from participating in the sport if given the right support and exposure.

He stressed that golf can serve as a tool for youth engagement and social development, particularly in keeping young people away from crime and other negative influences.

According to him, “If the government supports golf, we can also produce the likes of Tiger Woods. We have talents in this game and government intervention is very important.

“They should not look at golf as an elite game alone. It is also for the young ones. They can take them off the streets and keep them busy through the game.

“We need government intervention to support this game, a programme like catch them young to support the game. The last national sport festival Osun has never won a gold, but the last one at Abeokuta we won a gold.”

While commending Badmus for contributing to golf developmemt of the game in Osun, he said no fewer than 65 golfers across the South-West of Nigeria gathered to celebrate with him.

Jayeola said, “We have veteran golfers across the South-West, including from Ilorin, Ogbomoso, Ilesa, Ile-Ogbo, Ekiti, Ibadan and Abeokuta, among others. We have five representatives from each club, apart from the MicCom Golf Club, Ada. They all converged here to celebrate with him.

“We have three categories of prize for this event, the first position will go home with N2 million, the runner up will go home with N1million, while the third place will go home with N500,000,” he said.