Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Nigeria, Mike Ikpoki, has reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to the development of the game of golf in Nigeria.
Speaking at the end of an exciting tournament sponsored by the company at the luxuriant Lakowe Lakes last weekend, Ikpoki also expressed delight at the massive turnout of golfers for the tourney, adding that it was a demonstration of how the company is poised to be an enabler to Nigerians and Nigeria as a country.
The 18-hole world class championship golf course is situated along the Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos.
He said: “Our sponsorship of golf is not just a unique opportunity to connect our high-value stakeholders but equally reinforces our role as an enabler of socio-economic development across several fronts in Nigeria.
“It is in furtherance of these goals that we have created a bouquet of innovative products and value-adding services such as Diamond Y’ello Account, MTN Wifi Roaming, MTN OneBox, MTN App Store, MTN Xtra Time, MTN SME Plus and MTN Smart Number.
“These services are designed to empower business men, executives and leaders to achieve new heights in their individual and business aspirations.”
According to him, by combining the power of MTN’s world-class data network and top-of-the-range M2M service platform, the firm is demonstrating its commitment to providing innovative business solutions including device management, and control and monitoring tools to Corporate Nigeria.
At the exciting competition, the male Net category saw Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan, Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, who played off Handicap 18, carded an impressive score of 91 gross and 73 net to finish tops, ahead of 14 handicapper, Shina Luwoye, who came second with 88 gross and 74 net, and Mukoro Voka, a 13 handicapper, who was third, with 87 gross and 74 net.
Playing off Handicap 30, Toyin Caxton-Martins, who is Executive Secretary, Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA), won the female net category, after carding 102 gross and 72 net. She was followed by 25 handicapper, Linda Obieze, with 106 gross and 81 net, and Olabisi Luwoye, a 22 handicapper with 106 gross and 84 net.
For their efforts, the winners received an all-expense paid golfing weekend in George, South Africa, plus a trophy and three months data subscription bundle, while the runners up were rewarded with a trophy as well as a golfing weekend at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, and free one month data subscription.
In the Gross Men category, Peter Eben-Spiff, a two handicapper, came tops on the course with 79 gross and 77 net, while in the women category, Kate Iketubosin, a 26 handicapper, took home top honours with 101 gross and 75 net. Both winners went home with a trophy and all-expense paid golfing weekend in Fancourt, George, South Africa’s premier golf resort, with a free three months data subscription bundle.
In the Longest Drive to the Hole, Gui Zhi won in the male category, while Kate Iketubosin came tops after lots were cast in the female category. Edward Egesi won the Nearest to the Pin competition.
As part of this maiden edition of the MTN Golf Championship, non-players of the game were treated to a clinic where they were taken through the rudiments of golf. They also competed among themselves for honours in the Longest Drive, Nearest to the Pin, Bunker shot and Approach shot categories.
COO, Vodacom, Vernon Van Rooyen, came first; CEO, Charleson Industrial Supplies Limited, Mrs. Nneka Enwelu, came second; and Ken Adejumoh of C&F Porter Novelli, third, in the Longest Drive category.
In the Nearest to the Pin and Approach shot categories, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Usman Bawa, came tops, with Femi Arosonoye placing second, while Principal Partner, Oyagbola Chambers, Adebayo Oyagbola, came third.
In the Bunker shot, Mrs Obosa Akpata was declared the winner, with Vernon Van Rooyen and Wole Oladunjoye coming second and third, to round off an exciting day of golfing. All the winners received a 43-inch flat screen television and a trophy, while the runners-up went home with refrigerators.
MTN’s commitment to the development of golf in Nigeria is well chronicled with its title sponsorship of the Nigerian edition of the World Golfers Championship, the world’s largest amateur golf tournament since 2007. With this inaugural tourney, MTN is set to cement its position as Nigeria’s leading brand in building a lasting legacy of support, partnership and exciting golfing experience in Nigeria.
