NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

350 golfers for 2025 IBB Lady Captain’s Cup

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By Victor Okoye

No fewer than 350 golfers are set to slug it out for honours in the IBB International Golf and Country Club Lady Captain’s Cup 2025 scheduled to hold from April 2 to 6 in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Lady Captain’s Cup is a prestigious tournament that brings together high networth individuals, business leaders, golf enthusiasts, and community supporters.

The participants are expected to come together for a week of competition, networking and celebration of the achievements of the Ladies Golf Section under the leadership of the Lady Captain, Julie Donli.

Donli told newsmen that the event offers an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate golfers, corporate and individual sponsors of the Ladies Golf Section and engage diverse audiences.

“It has been an incredible journey serving as the Lady Captain of the IBB International Golf
and Country Club with our Theme for the Year “Ladies Supporting Ladies”

“I have enjoyed the honour of leading an exceptional group of women who are committed to the advancement of golf and the well-being of our community.

“l am filed with gratitude for the incredible journey we have shared. Over the past year, we
have accomplished so much together.

“We have hosted remarkable tournaments, expanding our membership, giving back to the community, developing infrastructure, and strengthening the legacy of the ladies Golf Section (LGS),” she said.

She noted that under her leadership, activities at the club have been vibrant and impactful with key highlights.

“Some of our highlights include a significant increase in the weekly Thursday Kitty participation, growing from 28 to over 190 players.

“Hosting of major tournaments, including the 26th IBB Ladies Amateur Golf Open Championship and 25th lBB Ladies Close Championship.

“Expansion of the Junior Open Championship, leading to two young Nigerian golfers
earning World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

“Completion of a four-unit toilet and storage facility at the Driving Range, enhancing
club infrastructure.

“Sponsorship mobilisation, strengthening financial sustainability as well as national and international engagements,” she said.

She expressed her heartfelt appreciation to their sponsors, partners, and everyone who worked
tirelessly to make the remarkable successes recorded in this committee possible.

She said that their unwavering support had been instrumental to the success of the LGS 2024/2025 Committee.

She called on all participants to display the spirit of sportsmanship, adding that she would love to be remembered for being a lady captain who was committed to her job, dedicated, hardworking, and passionate.

“As we look forward to an exciting round of golf, championship Ball/Prize presentation for the next couple of days, I encourage all participants to embrace the spirit of fair play, friendship, and excellence.

“Together, we will continue to grow the game of golf and inspire even greater achievements as I look forward to a memorable event,” she said.

Omon Isemede, the Social Secretary, said that the LGS Committee had lined up a series of exciting events for the week-long tournament.

“The first day which is April 2 is the Caddies Versus Ladies Competition because we intend to make it all-inclusive event, so we can’t leave out our caddies, including our pros will be playing on that day.

“We will also be having a CPR training for the caddies and ladies on that day because they are usually the first responders in the event of an emergency in the golf course.

“Thursday, April 3 will be the turn of the veterans /super veterans (men/ladies) competition as well as sickle cell anaemia enlightenment and awareness session.

“Category 3 (men/ladies) 24.3 and above will be playing on Friday, while Saturday, April 5 will be the ceremonial tee off with quite a number of dignitaries expected to grace the occasion

“The ceremonial tee-off will be followed by category 2 players (men/ ladies) (handicap index (15.8-24.2) event.

“Sunday, April 6, which is the final day will see category 1 (0.5-15.7) players (men/ladies) as well as our sponsors slugging it out on the green with the dinner/ prize giving ceremony scheduled for 5:30 p.m.,” she said.

Isemede also revealed that the overall winner would be smiling home with a business class return ticket to London, courtesy of Air Peace.

NAN also reports that the LGS Committee also visited a motherless babies’ home in Gishiri shortly after a press conference held at the club on Thursday.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh

IBB Golf Club crisis: Captain harps on respect for rule of law

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By Victor Okoye

Ibrahim Babayo, the Captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja has called for the strict adherence to the rule of law by all stakeholders in the ongoing dispute at the club.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the golf club, located in Abuja, is a prominent recreational and tourist attraction.

With its 101-hectare golf course, 25 bridges, and stunning views of Aso Rock, it’s a beloved destination for golf enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Babayo said the club had been independent of government subversion since 2004 and was issued with a C of O in 2011.

He noted that all statutory payments were up-to-date by the club, and operated just like most golf clubs, in Nigeria, which were built by public funds and handed over to the members of the various clubs across the country at different times.

He, however said that in an unfortunate turn of event on Saturday, security operatives sealed the club, following an internal leadership dispute that rocked the facility.

The closure on Saturday was reportedly aimed to disrupt an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), which was scheduled on the same day.

The captain said that the bone of contention was as a result of the members efforts to fill the vacant positions in the Board of Trustees (BOT).

He explained that the current situation where only two octogenarians constituted the BOT had led to a lack of corporate governance, stagnation of the development of the club and recent loss of funds.

He said for a considerable amount of time the outgone BOT were unable to form a quorum to make major decisions for the club.

He also noted that at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2014, a committee was set up to review the constitution of the club.

“This was successfully done in 2014, but implementation and registration of the new constitution was stalled by the chairman of the BOT for 10 years until December 2024 when it was finally successfully registered.

“This was simply because of a clause concerning tenure and age limits, which automatically disqualified him from being a BOT member.

“This is the main bone of contention,” he said.

He further explained that at the last AGM in 2024, a BOT Selection Committee was appointed by members and given terms of reference to fill the vacancies in the BOT.

He said the committee had finished their work and were at the point of presenting their report for the proper conduct of an election on Saturday.

He noted that this was before the club was shut down by security agencies, subsequently preventing the scheduled EGM from holding.

He urged all aggrieved parties to follow due process and the constitution of the club and be guided by the rule of law as well as a proper corporate governance structure.

He stressed that there was virtually no way that anybody could appropriate any section of the IBB Golf Club as it is the sole property of the club and a national asset as well.

He quoted the constitution as stating clearly in Section 32.2 that: “no member of the BOT or Executive Committee of the club shall have a proprietary or personal interest in any property of the club.

He said that the security operatives had since vacated the club’s premises, adding that they were currently conducting stakeholders’ engagement.

He assured that all pending issues would soon be resolved.

“We are a family and intend to unify our club, and we will by the grace of God succeed in becoming one great family again,

“Our aim is to make Abuja the number one golf tourism destination in Africa, and we intend to do so,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhyideen Jimoh

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