Date: December 6, 2023 11:23 pm
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Golfers and guests in and outside Nigeria gathered at Lafia Golf Club to celebrate the club’s competition Secretary Rev Father Gabriel Ngbea who marked his 25th Anniversary as a Catholic priest, last weekend with a Kitty in his honour.
Captain of Lafia Golf Club, Arch John Mlanga played the best net of 78, with his immediate predecessor Austin Akyuwa getting 79, while the best gross of 73 went to Joseph Stephen of Makurdi Golf Club.
In the women category Ada Godwin of Lafia Golf Club, secured 64 net, as Dzan Melody got 74 to emerge the runner up, the best gross of 87 went to the former vice president (North) of the Lady Golfers Association of Nigeria (LGAN) Terngo Agayi from Makurdi Golf Club.
Martin Adabor from Makurdi Golf went home with the best net of 72, as Engr Tony Effa securing 81 net to emerged the runner up in the veteran category.
The nearest to the pin winner in the men’s category was Stephen Joseph, while that of the ladies was Patience Abechi.
Arch. Shok Eddy gave the longest drive in the men section as Comfort Adakole was the winner of longest drive for ladies category.
Speaking shortly after the event the celebrants Rev Fr Ngbea said that he was overwhelmed that almost all the golf club in the North Central including Kaduna State were represented including guest as far as The United States of America, gracing the golfing event.
“To me golf is life, I have enjoyed a lot love and and patronage from members, I have been a competition Secretary for two tenure, Lafia Golf Club is going places, most of our Kitty attracts golfers almost across the federation expecially the middle belt here”
According to him, Lafia Golfing is a life style and urge everyone to embrace the game, he thanked members for chosing to celebrate him in a grand style and promise to stand by club through thick and thin.
On his part, the chairman of the Local organizing committee (LOC) Dr Changkat Lucky, who is the immediate past Vice Captain of Lafia Golf Club, said his fears of planning an event as big the 25th anniversary priestly ordination celebration kitty of a pupular person as Father Ngbea has been conquered with the success that the event as turn out to be, with over a hundred golfers and guest played the challenging 18 holes golf course and were entertained in and outside the course.
“The game of Golf attracts development, a lot of people that will come to play will patronize the hospitality business and it value chains, we call on the government to complete the club house which is the eye of the Club and is capable of changing the fortune of the Lafia Golf Club’
He however solicited that the Nasarawa State government, who is the owner of the Club should increase the tempo of finding and running the club as according the club has the capacity to churn in a greater percentage of internally generated revenue (IGR) in the areas of tourism and hospitality of the State.
Earlier during the closing ceremony of the kitty a minute silence was observed in honour the Captain of Makurdi Golf Club, Late Chief Micheal Vaatia who passed on the 4th of November and laid to rest on 15th November, 2023
