65th Lagos Open Golf Championship Tees Off At Ikoyi Club November 16

The 65th edition of the FirstBank-sponsored Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship will hold at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 from November 16 to 22, bringing together professional and amateur golfers from Nigeria and abroad.

The week-long tournament, one of the longest-running events on Nigeria’s golfing calendar, will feature a series of competitions designed to accommodate golfers across different categories while promoting the development of the sport.

Activities will begin with the caddies’ competition on Monday, November 16, followed by the Championship Kitty on Wednesday. The Corporate Challenge for Charity is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, while the main championship will take place from November 20 to 22.

The 54-hole main event will be open to amateur golfers with handicaps of 0–9, while the professional category will offer a total prize purse of ₦34 million, with the winner receiving ₦10 million.

Speaking at the pre-tournament briefing in Lagos, FirstBank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting golf and sustaining its contribution to sporting development in Nigeria.

Represented by Nnaemeka Ejeh, Group Executive, Commercial Banking, South Division, Alebiosu said the values associated with golf reflected the principles that had guided the bank over the years.

“In the game of golf, success is never accidental; it is earned through discipline, patience, strategic thinking and an unwavering commitment to excellence. These values equally define FirstBank,” he said.

He added that golf was not merely about scores and achievements but also demanded mental strength, concentration, consistency and continuous improvement.

“While achievements on the golf course matter, equally important are focus, fair play, discipline and integrity,” he said.

Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Akinwumi Akintola, described the 65th edition as a significant milestone, noting that the championship’s longevity reflected consistency, commitment and sustained investment in sporting excellence.

He said the competition had grown into one of the most recognised events on Nigeria’s golfing calendar, providing opportunities for golfers to demonstrate their abilities and compete at a high level.

Also speaking, Captain of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section, Afolabi Balogun, said the FirstBank Lagos Open had evolved beyond a traditional competition into an important platform for promoting and developing golf in Nigeria.

The championship, which is certified by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), is expected to attract a strong field of local and international participants as it marks another milestone in its 65-year history.