Kamalu Bako Urges More Funding To Take Nigerian Golf To Global Heights

Nigeria’s former number one professional golfer, Kamalu Bako, has called for increased government and private-sector investment in golf to enable Nigerian players compete more consistently at regional, continental and international tournaments.

Bako, who topped the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN) Order of Merit in 2023, said greater financial support from federal and state governments, corporate organisations and wealthy sports philanthropists was essential to raising Nigeria’s profile in international golf.

Speaking after his participation in the Sunshine Development Tour in Kenya, the Abuja-based professional said Nigeria had considerable potential, with about 47 golf courses, more than 100 golf professionals and thousands of amateur players.

He noted that beyond its sporting value, golf offered significant health, tourism, economic and social benefits through inter-club competitions and national and international tournaments.

Bako, currently ranked 3,748th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), finished 18th among 65 professionals at the Absa Ruiru Invitational in Kenya from August 16 to 18.

He urged governments and corporate bodies to partner with the Nigerian Golf Federation (NGF) and PGAN to sponsor Nigerian professionals on the international circuit.

“Our professionals need more support to fly the Nigerian flag higher abroad,” Bako said, stressing that consistent participation in international competitions was crucial to gaining ranking points, experience and exposure.

He lamented that Nigerian professionals often have to finance their own participation, unlike players from several other African countries who receive support from governments, companies and private individuals.

Bako said seven Nigerian professionals at the Absa Ruiru Invitational partly funded their participation themselves, with limited assistance from individuals.

He also pointed out that professional golfers in other countries are routinely engaged as brand ambassadors by airlines and telecommunications companies and used in promotional campaigns, opportunities he said were largely unavailable to Nigerian golfers.

Bako, who is based at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, highlighted Nigeria’s long association with the sport, which was introduced to the country about 120 years ago, with the first golf course established in Kano in 1908.

He has recorded a series of encouraging results on the Kenyan circuit, finishing 20th out of 120 players at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, 19th among 100 professionals at Vetlab Sports Club and 18th out of 85 at Absa Nyali Golf and Country Club.

The Absa Ruiru Invitational attracted professional and amateur golfers from across Africa, with valuable Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit, OWGR and World Amateur Golf Ranking points at stake.

The East Africa Swing will continue at Kigali Golf Resort & Villas from September 11 to 13 with the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship.