NAN-S-22
Workshop
Lagos, Oct. 21, 2016 (NAN) Abel Edinomo, Secretary-General, West African Amateur Golf Association (WAAGA), on Friday said the Lagos State-sponsored secondary school open workshop on the sport would open a new vista in the game.
Edinomo made the assertion when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the gains to be made by the state and the country from the golf workshop.
NAN reports that the training was part of the Lagos State Sports Commission’s (LSSC) efforts at promoting sports at the grassroots and it was in collaboration with Lagos State Golf Association.
The event, held at the Agege Township Stadium, is part of the activities for the 3rd Awa Ibrahim Junior Golf Open Championships taking place at the Ikeja Golf Club.
It is aimed at exposing the young players to the rudiments of golfing and has in attendance about 200 children from across the state.
Edinomo said the workshop; the first of its kind for secondary school students in the country was a veritable platform for exposing them to the game at a tender age.
“I wish to commend the Lagos State Government for this laudable initiative, the first of its kind in the history of the game. At least, the government is setting a pace.
“The workshop is successful and I am sure it will open a new vista in golf in the country because these little ones are the future of the game.
“We are happy to embrace such a school developmental programme where budding talents are discovered. This also shows that the game is for all and not the rich alone.
“It is expected that this kind of programme will be sustained for the future of the game so that the country will have a name in golf globally,’’ he said.
Also, the spokesperson for LSSC, Titi Oshodi, told NAN that the government had provided training programmes for young golfers because of its belief in grassroots sports development.
“The Awa Ibrahim Junior Golf Open commenced in 2013. The private initiative has annually recorded over 200 players, including boys and girls in both junior and senior secondary schools.
“The tournament has afforded the young Nigerian golfers ample opportunity to strengthen and build on their outstanding performances.
“It also serves as a pool from which the Lagos State Golf Association has identified budding talents over the years, so, we are happy to be part of it.
“It is pertinent for the government to consider the training programmes which will serve as a platform in the pursuit of grassroots promotion, development and administration of golf,’’ she said.
Oshodi said the championships would help in identifying potential stars in the future that will represent the country and so, the need for the workshop could not be over-emphasised.
“The training will also serve as a platform for the continued development of the game in Lagos State towards the discovery of the next world class golfers by the year 2020.
“It will also, with time, draw tourists’ attention to the city of Lagos,’’ she said.
NAN reports that at least 200 students from 15 government and private schools participated in the training. (NAN)
KOJE/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)