What are the responsibilities of IGCNA?
IGCNA is distinct the club itself. It is an association of golfers who are Nigerians and who are mainly based in Ikoyi Club By implication, it is extended to any Nigerian who is a golfer. By and large, its objective is to develop golf.
The Nigeria Cup is the main event or project that the association handles at the moment. It is put together to honour the Nigerian Independence Day. It is meant to showcase a major tournament that could even attract international participation on a day that Nigeria celebrates.
Can you give us a summary of how the event has operated in the past?
As I said, it’s like a major among the various competitions that are held here. People look forward to the Nigeria Cup because it is the most flamboyant, the best organized and the most sponsored that every corporate body wants to associate with. The event brings together all members of the corporate community, individuals and groups that are interested in golf. There is also a dinner and gala night to round it off.
How far has the Nigeria Cup benefitted the developmental cause?
The competition is well funded and we use money raised for developmental projects within the club. Currently we are doing the lightening of the course which will help players play more than usual. By the time the project is completed, golfers will be able to play three holes at night and people who start playing from 3pm to 4pm in the afternoon can finish playing because it get dark before they normally finish. Now, people can come late to play and still finish their game. This project is costing us over N20m from the proceeds of previous Nigeria Cup.
How is the leadership of the ICGNA selected?
This has been evolving but usually the executives are elected. The tenure of each executive is two years. We are in the second year of our tenure and at the next AGM, we will call for an election.
What do you wish to see in the 2013 Nigeria Cup that will be different from the previous years?
We have a process that allows the vice captain of the club to be the chairman of organising committee every year. Since the tenure of captain in this club is one-year, it means you have the vice captain organising the event annually.
What we have observed is that succeeding captains have tried to improve on the previous events both in fund-raising and fund-conservation. But the certain thing is the standard of the competition is really high. I would just want the current captain and vice captain to sustain the tempo. They should also try to bring in new innovations as it happens in PGA of America and Europe.
As you said earlier, the Nigeria Cup is preparatory class of sort for the would-be captain. Has the succession plan worked fine?
It’s being working perfectly as the succession plan for captainship. It is a stewardship period for vice captain. I can’t recollect when a vice captain didn’t end up as captain. If you noticed we have moved from browns to greens. The succeeding captains have continually improved on what they meet on the ground. For two years now the flooding problem in the club has been reduced because drainage has been worked and the current captain has picked up from where the previous stopped.
Do you support the gala night for the Nigeria Cup holding outside the club as we have witnessed recently instead of the clubhouse?
I am aware of the talks about this. Each time that is debated, it is often resolved in favour of those who believe that the Gala Night has outgrown the facility at the club. Well, the Gala Night is about Nigeria’s independence and I think we should reciprocate those organisations that supported it by giving them a befitting avenue and ambiance that befits the celebration. The reason for moving it out of the clubhouse is valid.