The week-long golf invitational, held to celebrate the 60th birthday of Mrs Grace Ihonvbere, former Lady Captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja, concluded with great fanfare.
Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan emerged victorious, outshining over 300 competitors to secure the coveted anniversary trophy. He clinched the title with an impressive nett score of 67 after a count back over 18 holes.
Upon receiving his award, Rear Admiral Hassan attributed his success, which also included a brand-new golf cart, to his consistency and a bit of luck. He expressed his admiration for the tournament, deeming it the “best ever” he has participated in since taking up the sport.
The evening also celebrated other notable winners. Paul Uzezi took home the Best Gross Men award, with Joel Molel as the runner-up. Grace Agbo was named Best Gross Ladies, while Farida Wada secured the runner-up position. O. Olukoya was recognised as the best among the Guest Men, and LGAN President Evelyn Oyome received the accolade for Best Guest Ladies. In the Veterans category, past Captain Chika Chiejina and past Lady Captain Lami Ahmed were crowned the winners for Veteran Men and Ladies respectively. Sola Awoyungbo was named the Super Veteran Men winner, with F. Anyanwu taking the title for Super Veteran Ladies.
The event was graced by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who paid tribute to Lady Grace Ihonvbere, commending her as a beacon of discipline, humility, and commitment to community service as she celebrated this significant milestone.
In her address, Grace Ihonvbere expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported the week-long golfing championship, including caddies, professionals, and the amateur golfers. She shared that her decision to celebrate her 60th birthday at the club stemmed from her desire to acknowledge the unwavering support she has received from friends, colleagues, and the club over the years.
The memorable dinner and awards ceremony was attended by esteemed guests, including Grace Ihonvbere’s husband, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the Leader of the House of Representatives in the National Assembly, Captain of the club Ibrahim Babayo, members of the Club’s Board of Trustees, executive members, as well as family and friends of the celebrant.
