Ihesie Wins 2023 IBB Captain’s Cup As Members Eulogise Outgoing Captain, Ekoja

The much anticipated 2023 IBB International Golf and Country Club Captain’s Cup tagged ‘Mike Ekoja 2023 Captain Cup’ tournament came to a flourishing climax at the weekend, with Jacob Ihesie emerging the overall winner of the week-long event. 

The handicap 17 amateur golfer played a cumulative score of 85 gross and 68 nett to beat the field of 500 golfers to the 2023 Captain’s Cup top prize, smiling home with a 5kVA Phocos Inverter, 5.3kWh WeCo Lithium Battery and 8460W Yingli Solar Panels worth N 5. 59 million.

The solar system is expected to be installed free by one of the event’s major sponsors, CDD Infrastructure.

He attributed his victory to hardwork and commitment. “I feel so happy and fulfilled after training so hard for this tournament and winning the star prize at the end of the day.

“It shows that hardwork and commitment pays.

“I really feel honoured and grateful to the organizers, executives and board of trustees of this great club as well as the sponsors of this wonderful tournament for this valuable prize given to me,” Ihesie  said. 

Amina Wilfred of Nigerian Police Force, playing off handicap 0, with a gross score of 76, won the prize for the best gross ladies while J. Ayu playing off handicap 18, with a gross score of 94 and 76 nett emerged as winner of the category.

The well attended tournament, which had participants from UAE, UK Cameroon and other  African countries in honour of the outgoing captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, judged the best ever organised Captain’s Cup in the history of the club as members and friends showered encomium on the outgoing Captain Mike Ekoja.

A cross section of members and friends described Chief Ekoja as an outstanding captain who left an indelible mark in the club.

Boboye Oyeyemi, chairman, organising committee of the 2023 Captain’s Cup said: “Indeed, what you have witnessed throughout this week is as a result of the painstaking and dedicated efforts of the members of the committee to celebrate our very humble and amiable captain.

“This year’s Captain’s Cup has turned out to be a remarkable success as shown by the number of participants. We all ensured that it ran its course with a great sense of collective achievement.

“It proves once again that golf has remained one of the powerful games that unites people from diverse backgrounds and ages asides from its tremendous health benefits,” he said.

Former ;kady captain of the club, Lami Ahmed, said Ekoja was a dedicated, hardworking captain and a very good team player.

According to her, the huge number of participants during the tournament was a good testament to Ekoja’s immense contribution to the growth and success of the club.

“Every year, the Captain’s Cup is the climax of all activities in this club and therefore the members come together to celebrate the captain who has devoted and dedicated a full year running the affairs of the club.

“It is noteworthy to mention that Ekoja is a special person. He is a man who gave his all and committed 356 days on a daily basis carrying out one activity or the other.”

Julie Acholonu, also a past lady Captain (2018) said Ekoja was a diligent and resourceful person who did very well in his capacity as the Captain of the club.