16th IBB Junior Open: Sports enthusiasts harp on consolidation of future of golf in Nigeria

Some sports enthusiasts in Abuja have called for the consolidation of the future of golf in the country.

Fewer than 146 children are participating in the 16th edition of the IBB Junior Golf Open at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

The championship, which is being organised by the IBB Ladies Golf Section, teed off on Thursday and will end on Sunday.

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A cross-section of sports enthusiasts who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the ceremonial tee-off said there was a need to ensure that the development of golf at the grassroots was sustained.

The former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said that holding the 16th edition of the grassroots competition and sustaining it for such a long time was very commendable.

“It is such an important landmark. It is the 16th edition, which is very impressive. The key thing for me is ‘junior’ because I often say that the gold is in the child.

“Unless you start to give these young talents the required training and competitions they need, they cannot grow up to give us the medals that we need,” he said.

He said that the 16th edition of the championship was a testament to the fact that the competition had, over the years, produced quality players.

He called on other sporting federations in the country to borrow a leaf from what is being done at the IBB Golf Club and organise more grassroots competitions.

He added, “I think this is very important, and I am very supportive of this event. I hope several other sports in the country can organise junior, senior, amateur, and elite championships. Every single sport must develop its young ones from the junior stage before they can hit