Kwara to establish golf, table tennis academies

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Tuesday said the state had concluded plan for the establishment of golf and table tennis academies to train youths to become champions in national and international competitions.

The governor said this while speaking with newsmen shortly after performing the ceremonial tee-off at the Kwara @ 50 Open Golf Championships holding at the Ilorin Golf Course.

“I promised that the idea will be taken to completion to support Kwara Football Academy,’’ the governor said.

He also noted that his administration was poised to make the Ilorin Golf Course a centre of attraction and destination for golfers.

Ahmed added that the course would be placed top among the comity of courses in the country and the West Africa sub-region.

The governor, however, urged Nigerians to develop interest in golfing, saying it was not elitist as being insinuated in some quarters.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Bolakale Ayo, said that the government would not relent in its efforts to encourage sports development, particularly at the grassroots.

Earlier in his remarks, the Captain of Ilorin Golf Course, Layi Maliki, said that the championship and the Ibadan Open Championship would serve as qualifiers for an international championship billed for Equatorial Guinea.

Maliki, who did not disclose when the championship in Equatorial Guinea would take place, said the competition would be managed by Sluqfort Nigeria Ltd., a consultant on golf tournaments.

He added that the competition would be sponsored by Bua Nigeria Ltd., a business outfit involved in agricultural production in Lafiagi community in the state.