About Us

About Us

The Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria (PGA of Nigeria) is a non-profit making registered association with the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C). The Association aims to promote and manage professional golf in the country. In addition, it seeks to enhance career development and capacity building among its members and update its members in the profession; more importantly, ensure strict adherence to the rules of golf as provided by the R & A and the USGA.

Journey

It came into existence in 1969 when the first set of golf professionals returned from the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) sponsored six-month pro training course in the United Kingdom. The first set of pros includes Late Jamiu Oyebajo, Late Emmanuel Lawrence, Mr Patrick Okpomu and Mr Festus Makelemi. Prior to this time, Late John Norsworthy, an expatriate was the only PGA Pro in Nigeria and was based in Ikoyi Club 1938. Thereafter, the number started increasing with more Nigerians attending training in the United Kingdom. Presently, the training is done locally through the bi-ennial PGA of Nigeria Qualifying School. However, further training in overseas countries still attracts our members.

It was initially named Nigeria Professional Golfers’ Association (NPGA) before it was changed to its present name, PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA in 1999.

The PGA of Nigeria used to be affiliated to the European Tour when our Nigerian Open was a major event in the continent of Africa and attracted pros from all over the world. Furthermore, there used to be a Satellite Tour played across the country few weeks before the Nigerian Open proper. This Tour enabled foreign pros to acclimatize in the country among others. Great names such as Sandy Ly, Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnaam, John Morgan, Peter Dawson, David Jarger, Wayne Stephens, Sam Torrence, Malcom Gregson and a host of others had played in the Nigerian Open before becoming famous. So far, the history of the Nigerian Open will not be completed without a mention of Lateef Lasisi, the only Nigerian pro that ever won the Open. 

We have good relationship with the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF). We are always available to provide professional advice to the Federation.

The Association is administered by an Executive Committee that is made up of six elected golf professionals and two non-elected amateurs (i.e the Association’s General Manager and the Secretary). The Association’s Secretariat is situated in Surulere area of Lagos state. The property housing the Secretariat is a duplex building with boys-quarters now worth more than forty five million naira, was bought by the Association in 1999.

The PGA of Nigeria has made a name for itself through the way and manner the Association has placed itself before the golfing community in the country. Strong amateur golfers always aspire to become members. Furthermore, the Association has become a brand such that corporate bodies that understand golf always aspire to use our brand to promote their businesses through the sponsorship of our events

The Association has been facilitating tournaments for its members through discussion with sponsors (corporates and individuals). Our tournaments do attract Pros from outside the country apart from our members from the aforementioned countries. Amateurs of various abilities are always eager to play, though on a separate field, in any of our sanctioned events.

In the quest to have more tournaments, the PGA of Nigeria floated a tour name,  PGA Nigeria Tour with the support of well-meaning Nigerians, namely- Otunba Olusola Adekanola, Mr Uyi Akpata and Mr Tedd Iwere as Directors. Due to some issues, the Tour operated for few years before it went down. However, efforts are on to bring the Tour back into operation.

Since the formation of the Association, members had been playing tournaments both locally and internationally. Since 1971, Nigeria had been represented in the World Cup of Golf in different countries until year 2010 when its format was reviewed by the organisers. 

YEAR

VENUE

REPRESENTATIVES

1971

California, USA

Jamiu Oyebajo (Late) and Patrick Okpomu

1972

Merbella, Spain

Patrick Okpomu and Paul Osanebi (Late)

1973

Melbourne, Australia

Patrick Okpomu and Paul Osanebi (Late)

1974

Marcas, Venezuela

Festus Makelemi and Patrick Okpomu

1975

Bangkok, Thailand

Jamiu Oyebajo (Late) and Patrick Okpomu

1976

Green Spring,  USA

Paul Osanebi  (Late) and Patrick Okpomu

1977

Wack Wack, GC Manila

Peter Akakasiaka and Amadu Baba (Late)

1978

Hawaii Island

No Representation

1983

Faro, Portugal

Tony Uduimoh and Peter Akakasiaka

1984

Ireland

Tony Uduimoh and Bello Seibidor

1985

Caracas

Christian Okwu (Late) and Peter Akakasiaka

1992

Hong Kong

Peter Akakasiaka, Tony Uduimoh and Sunday Okpe (Late)

1995

Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Lasisi Lateef and Peter Akakasiaka

1996

Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Sunday Okpe (Late) and Yusuf Waheed

1997

Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Enaigbe Victor and Peter Akakasiaka

1999

Malaysia

Andrew Dominic and Lasisi Lateef

2003

Singapore

Ayuba Musa and Ugbong Francis

2008

Malaysia

Andrew Oche Odoh and Oyebanji Gboyega (4th Position)

2010

Malaysia

Christian Godfrey (Late) and Edet Umoh (Late)

1977       –              Tony Uduimoh

1978       –              Peter Akakasiaka

1979       –              Tony Uduimoh

1980       –              David Owoyemi

1981       –              Bello Seibidor

1982       –              Tony Uduimoh

1983       –

1984       –              Peter Akakasiaka

1985       –              Peter Akakasiaka

1986       –              Jones Esioyibo (Late)

1987       –

1988       –              David Owoyemi

1989       –              Bello Seibidor

1992       –              Lucky Suleiman

2009       –              Christian Godfrey (Late)

In addition to the above facts, members of the Association have been playing international tournaments and flying the Nigerian flag brilliantly. Among these are:

SAMSON LAWAL

He participated in international events such as:

  • British Caledonian World Golf Pro-Am, United Kingdom – 1976              
  • British Open (Final Qualifying Round), UK – 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1987
  • Safari Tour Events in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone & Cote D”Ivoire – 1977 – 1986

PATRICK OKPOMU

He represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf at six different times

He participated in international events in:

  • United Kingdom – 1968 – 1969
  • United States of America (Mini-Tours) – 1971  – 1978
  • Nigerian Open, Lagos, Nigeria – 1970  –   1988
  • Winner – Nigerian (Close) Championship 1971  –  1976
  • Winner – Accra Open, Ghana – 1976
  • Benson & Hedges Open, England – 1978
  • West Africa vs Great Britain – 1981
  • Safari Tour in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Cote D’Ivoire – 1971 – 1986
  • Ghana & Sierra Leone Opens – 1973 – 1980

PETER AKAKASIAKA  

He represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf at six different times

  • 9th Position – Egyptian Open, Egypt –  1977
  • 34th Position  –  Benson & Hedges Open, U.K  –  1979
  • 1st Position – Port Harcourt Open, PH, Nigeria (Beating the famous Sandy Lyle to 2nd position and other foreign pros) – 1979
  • 2nd Position – Ghana Open, Ghana, – 1980
  • 16th Position – Cote D’Iviore Open, Yamaoussokoro – 1980
  • 27th Position – Indian Open, India – 1982 & 1989
  • Swedish Open, Sweden 1983 & 84
  • German Open, Germany – 1984 & 86
  • 1st Position – Bendel Open, Benin, Nigeria (The famous Vijay Singh came 3rd) – 1984
  • M/C – British Open (proper), St Andrews – 1987
  • M/C – British Open, Scotland – 1989
  • 3rd  Position – Cote D’Iviore Open, Yammoussokoro – 1989
  • 24th Position – Zambia Open, Zambia – 1990
  • 3rd  Position – Nigerian Open, Ikoyi, Nigeria – 1991
  • 2nd Position – Nigerian Open,  Ikoyi, Nigeria – 1996
  • 36th Position – Benson & Hedges Open, Spain – 1992
  • 36th Position – Zimbabwe Open, Zimbabwe – 1992
  • 2nd Position – Togo Open, Togo – 1981  –  1995 (12 times)

TONY UDUIMOH

He represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf at three different times

  • 2nd Position – Ghana Open, Tema, Ghana – 1988
  • 2nd Position – Sierra Leone Open, Freetown, Sierra Leone – 1989
  • 2nd Position – J & B Golf Classic, Lome, Togo – 1989
  • 2nd Position – President Sir Dauda Jawara (Gambia) Open, Gambia – 1991

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

  • British Caledonian Airways Pro-Am, St Andrews, Scotland –   1983 & 1985                       
  • Lee Elder Invitational-Pinehurst Country Club, North Carolina, USA – 1986
  • Lee Elder Invitational-Hilton head Island South Carolina, USA –   1987
  • Lee Elder Invitational-Nemacolin Woodland Resorts & Country Club, Farmington, Pennsylvania – 1989
  • African Safari Golf Tour in Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroun, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe

European PGA Tour Events 1984 – 1985

  • Carrols Irish Open, Royal Dublin Golf Club, Ireland
  • Benson & Hedges Intl. Open, Fulford York, England
  • Kim Dutch Open, Amheim, Holland
  • Ebel Swiss Open, Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland
  • Lufthansa German Open, Hamburg, Germany
  • Spanish Open, Marbella, Spain

JACOB OMORUAH

He participated in the following international tournaments:

  • Nigerian Open, Ikoyi Club, Nigeria     –           1978  –   1991
  • West Africa vs Great Britain – 1984 – 1988
  • British Open, UK – 1999
  • Ghana Open, Ghana – 1980
  • Cote D’Ivoire Open, Yamasoukoro, – 1980
  • Togo Open, Togo – 1981
  • Cote D’Ivoire Open, Yamasoukoro, – 1989

LATEEF LASISI

He represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf at two different times

  • 1st Position    –    Nigerian Open, Ikoyi, Nigeria – 1995

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING TOURNAMENTS

  • J & B Open, Nairobi  –   1996 & 1998
  • J & B Open, Harare, Zimbabwe – 2000
  • J & B Open, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire  –   2002
  • J & B Open, Accra, Ghana  –   2004

EMOS KORBLAH (GHANAIAN NATIONALITY)

  • 1st Position    –    Nigerian Open, Ikoyi, Nigeria      –      1994
  • Represented Nigeria at – J & B Nairobi – 1996 & 1998

VICTOR ENAIGBE

He once represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf

  • 2nd Position  –   African Open, Port Harcourt, Nigeria   –    2007
  • 1st Position    –   African Open, Port Harcourt, Nigeria  – 2009         

ANDREW OCHE ODOH

He is an outstanding professional golfer. He is a World ranking pro and an affiliate member of the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. He once represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf. Listed below are some of the international tournaments he played.

  • 1st position      –           Haslac Pebble Rock Classic 2008        –           Startus Tour South Africa
  • 4th position      –           Fortis International World Cup of Golf qualification Malaysia 2008 with Gboyega Oyebanji
  • 4th position      –           Zambian Open 2008   –           Sunshine Tour
  • 1st position      –           3e Actuaries Equatorial Guinea Open 2013
  • 1st position      –           Cameroon International Open 2014
  • 1st position      –           Cameroon International Open 2015
  • 1st position      –           3e Actuaries Equatorial Guinea Open 2015
  • 2nd position      –           Libreville Open Gabon 2014
  • 6th position      –           Vodacom Origins of Golf Finals, Sunshine Tour, South Africa, St Francis Links 2016
  • 1st position      –           Cameroon International Open 2018 
  • 2nd position      –           Cote D’Ivoire Open, Cote D’Ivoire 2018 

He has won 40 professional tournaments in Nigeria.

SUNDAY OLAPADE

  • 8th Position   –   3E Actuaries Open, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea    –   2014
  • 7th Position   –   Cameroun Open, Yaounde, Cameroun    –    2015
  • 6th Position   –   Moanda Open, Moanda, Gabon    –    2015
  • 7th Position   –   3E Actuaries Open, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea    –   2015
  • 19th Position  –   3E Actuaries Open, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea    –   2016
  • 6th Position   –    Cameroun Open, Younde, Cameroun   –   2016
  • 4th Position   –    Cameroun Open, Younde, Cameroun   –   2017
  • 16th Position   –   3E Actuaries Open, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea    –   2017
  • 4th Position   –    Liberia Golf Championship Open, Liberia    –   2017
  • 5th Position   –    Senegal Open, Senegal    –    2017
  • 3rd  Position  –     Ghana Open, Ghan     –     2017
  • 5th Position    –    Damang Golf Championship Open, Ghana   –    2018
  • 6th  Position    –    Vodafone Open, Kumasi, Ghana    –     2018
  • 1st Position   –    Libreville Open, Libreville, Ghana     –   2018

MARTIN ODOH

  • 5th Position   –   Accra Open, Ghana     –    2012
  • 6th Position    –    Ashantiene  Cup, Kumasi, Ghana   –    2013
  • 5th Position   –     Cameroun Open, Cameroun    –     2014
  • 5th Position    –    Golf Fileld Open, Damang, Ghana    –    2014

GBOYEGA OYEBANJI

He once represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf

  • 2nd Position (Lost 1st Pos. on Play-Off) –  Jimaga Golf Tournament, United Kingdom  –  2006
  • 1st Position    –    Cameroun @ 50 Golf Championship    –    2010

DOMINIC ANDREW

He once represented Nigeria in the World Cup of Golf

  • 1st Position   –    Togo Open, Togo   –    1998
  • 1st Position   –    Ghana Open, Ghana   –    1998

BASIRU BAKARE

  • 3rd Position   –    Moanda Open,  Gabon.    –    2010
  • 4th Position   –     Heineken Open, Congo Kinshasa   –    2010.
  • 3rd Position  –     Libreville Open, Gabon   –    2011.
  • 10th Position   –    Cameroon Open, Cameroun   –     2011

MOHAMMED KABIR HARUNA

  • 1st Position   –    Liberia Open, Liberia    –    2016
  • 4th Position  –   3E Actuaries Open, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea  –   2014

ELISHA MARKUS

  • 12th Position   –   Cameroun Open, Cameroun    –     2011
  • 3rd Position    –    Road to Mongomo (Qualifier to 3E Actuaries Open), Ibadan, Nigeria    –    2017

IKEMEFUNE VINCENT

  • 12th Position  –  Cote D’Iviore Open, Cote D’Iviore  –   2018

AUSTIN AKPODIETE

  • 12th Position  –  Cote D’Iviore Open, Cote D’Iviore  –   2018

 

Administrative Team

Tony Philmoore PhD, JP

Executive Director

Johnbull Dangofa

Tournament Director

Uchenna Ezebuiro

Operation Director

Segun Obamuwe

Finance Director

Mike Alika

General Manager

Olajide Bolaji

Secretary