Dogara Wins 2nd NESI Golf Tournament, Calls for Greater Investment in Sport
Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, emerged as the champion of the 2nd Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) golf tournament held at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja. The event saw the participation of over 160 golfers from the electricity sector, fostering collaboration and promoting efficient service delivery.
Dogara secured victory with an impressive 62 net aggregate score, claiming the top spot at the one-day tournament. Speaking at the gala night for participants on Saturday, Dogara expressed his excitement, attributing his win partly to luck but emphasizing the joy of participating.
“I am excited not because I have won, but because I participated,” Dogara said. “The joy of golf is not just in participating; if you don’t win, you still benefit from the exercise and the vitamin D if you play early in the morning. Luck plays a role in sports, and I’m happy to have won after coming second in the first edition.”
Dogara also called for increased investment in golf development across Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to create regulations encouraging corporate organizations to support and maintain strategic facilities like the IBB golf course.
“I’m not suggesting that the government should allocate funds for this golf club, but businesses in Nigeria making significant profits should contribute through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This can elevate the status of the course to match that of global venues like St. Andrews, signaling that Nigeria is committed to change and excellence,” he said.
He noted that the tournament provided an informal platform for stakeholders to discuss solutions to the ongoing power challenges in the country.
Adetunji Adeyeye, Coordinator of the tournament, highlighted the event’s role in fostering synergy among electricity industry stakeholders. “The golf tournament serves as a platform for stakeholders in the Nigerian power sector to converse, strategize, and engage informally,” Adeyeye stated.
The event concluded with a gala night, where winners and participants across various categories were recognized.
