CIO Golf Championship Raises Stakes With Record ₦100m Prize Purse

The seventh edition of the CIO Golf Championship will offer a record ₦100 million prize purse as organisers seek to attract Africa’s leading professionals to the week-long tournament at Python Golf Club, Port Harcourt, from November 8 to 15.

The organisers said on Sunday that about 30 of Africa’s top professional golfers, alongside a strong Nigerian contingent, would compete for the lucrative prize, making it one of the biggest professional golf events on the continent.

Beyond the financial rewards, the championship is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s position on Africa’s golfing calendar and provide local professionals with a pathway to the prestigious Magical Kenya Open, a DP World Tour event.

Ikenna Okafor, Chairman of Keves Global Leasing, a major sponsor of the tournament, described the CIO Championship as Nigeria’s richest professional golf event, highlighting its growing importance in developing African talent.

“The CIO Championship is committed to rewarding excellence, attracting Africa’s finest players and creating opportunities for Nigerian professionals beyond the country,” Okafor said.

He explained that the tournament’s winner would have a potential route to the Magical Kenya Open, offering Nigerian professionals an opportunity to gain international exposure and compete against established players.

“This pathway is particularly important for Nigerian professionals who possess the talent but lack regular access to international competition,” he added.

The Magical Kenya Open provides golfers with an opportunity to test their abilities against some of the world’s established professionals, making the CIO Championship an important platform for career progression.

Meanwhile, Francis Epe, winner of the 2025 edition, said the tournament had continued to raise the profile of professional golf in Nigeria through its competitive field and improved prize money.

“I think the championship has showcased Python Golf Club and reinforced Nigeria’s capacity to host major international competitions,” Epe said.

The organisers have also retained a grassroots development component, with a children’s competition scheduled to open activities on November 8.

Elite amateur and professional golfers will subsequently take centre stage from November 11 to 15, as the championship combines grassroots participation with top-level competition.

With the increased prize purse and the prospect of international opportunities, the seventh edition is expected to further strengthen the tournament’s standing in African professional golf.