Members of the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja have expressed their gratitude to Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the Board of Trustees (BOT) led by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem for their concerted efforts to reopen the club.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club was temporarily closed for renovations aimed at bringing its facilities up to international standards. Following significant efforts by the BOT, Minister Wike visited the club on Saturday to assess the current state of its facilities.
During his visit, Wike assured members that the clubhouse would undergo immediate renovations as part of an emergency intervention, focusing initially on areas where golfers gather and socialise. He also promised that further renovations and upgrades would be carried out in phases across other sections of the club. Notably, the renovation will be managed by Julius Berger, the original designers of the club’s layout established in 1991.
Members of the IBB Golf Club shared their excitement regarding the minister’s visit, acknowledging that the progress made would not have been possible without the efforts of the BOT. They highlighted the importance of reopening the club and commended Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), for establishing a committee led by AVM B.D. Solomon to drive reconciliation efforts and petition signing at the stadium.
Eager to resume their activities and social events, club members expressed that the renovations would significantly enhance their overall experience. Iyabo Adebola thanked Wike and the BOT for their dedication, emphasising that the renovation of the IBB Golf Club was essential and long overdue, given the club’s status as a vital recreational and social hub in Abuja.
Adebola pointed out that the club, built over 30 years ago, had become worn down due to heavy use and lack of maintenance, necessitating substantial renovations.
Nuhu Ahmad echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude to Wike and the BOT for their hard work in reviving the club from its dormant state and asserting that the renovations would elevate the club to international standards, positioning it as a premier recreation and tourism destination in Nigeria.
Matta Ushani also praised the efforts of the minister and the BOT, noting that the club’s renovation would enhance community spirit and improve the experience for its more than 5,000 members. A.U. Bala commended Wike for his supportive role in guiding the club in the right direction and thanked him for appointing capable individuals to the BOT to manage the club’s affairs. He highlighted the significant economic benefits of renovating the club to international standards, predicting it would attract tourism and investment.
Pius James lauded the BOT for their persistent advocacy for the club’s reopening and welcomed the minister’s visit as a positive step towards the club’s renovation and reopening. He stated, “My expectation is that the renovation will enhance the club’s facilities and overall experience for its members.”
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, NGF President and BOT member, expressed his appreciation to Wike for responding to the members’ appeals for the club’s reopening. He referred to Wike as “Mr. Golf Legend” for his efforts in revitalising the IBB Golf Club and thanked the members who participated in a recent petition signing exercise, which garnered over 2,000 signatures.
NAN recalls that Runsewe organised a week-long petition signing initiative at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium last month, reflecting the strong support from club members for Wike’s intervention.
Looking ahead, the NGF President indicated that upon reopening, the club would implement stringent security checks and member profiling to uphold discipline and prestige. He also stressed that the health and well-being of members, course maintenance, and youth development would remain top priorities for the new BOT.
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