Gabriel Efo
The Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, OGFZA, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, has charged Akwa Ibom youths to take up golfing as a career as the industry is worth $70 billion.
Umana said this during the grand finale of a five-day Golf Development for Women, Youth and Juniors, a programme sponsored by OGFZA, at the Ibom Icon Golf Resort, Uyo, on Friday, December 17, 2021.
The MD who said that professional golfers make as much as 10 million dollars from a single golf tournament, said the game of golf should not be treated as a joke.
“Golf is not just a game. It is a sport that will transform your life. Once you are a golfer, you are part of a larger family. Any other golfer will deal with you and treat you like a brother.
“Golf is a business. For those of you who are talented, who knows what will happen tomorrow? We can have professionals even from this group. There are golfers who go home from one tournament with as much as $10m.
“This is not a joke. You look at the golf industry; it is worth $70b. When you come into the family and you understand what you are doing, you can find a place for yourself,” he said.
Umana assuaged insinuations that golf is a rich man’s game, noting that the game is open for anyone who has interest to play it.
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Golf Lady Pro of Elite Global Golf Academy (EGGA), Abuja, Uloma Mbuko, said that about 10 young people, who can compete with the likes of Tiger Woods in the nearest future were discovered in the course of the five days programme.
Mboko, who was the coach of the tournament, said “we have discovered about 10 persons here that if they continue training, they will compete favourably with the likes of Tiger Woods in the nearest future.”
Edima Godwin Affia, a 13-year-old participant, said that she was excited to join the family of golfers.
Affia who said she was not particularly interested in taking up golfing as a career, said she only played for the fun of it.
The programme, which was free for all the over 150 participants, commenced on Monday, December 13, 2021 and ran through Friday, December 17, 2021.
