By Ado Salisu
Members of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja have expressed gratitude to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Board of Trustees (BOT) led by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem for their efforts to reopen the club.
The club was temporarily closed for renovations, which are expected to bring the facilities up to international standards.
As a result of all the efforts of the Chairman and members of the BOT, the minister on Saturday visited the club to assess the facilities.
Wike during the visit assured that the clubhouse will be renovated immediately, first under an emergency intervention, focusing on areas where golfers socialize and relax.
The minister also promised that other sections of the club would be renovated and upgraded in phases.
He noted that Julius Berger, the original designers of the club’s layout in 1991, would handle the renovation process.
Some IBB Golf club members who reacted to the visit by the FCT Minister told newsmen that they were thrilled by the latest developments at the club, adding that, but for the efforts of the BOT, all these would not have been possible.
The members emphasized the importance of reopening the club and commended the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) President Otunba Olusegun Runsewe for setting up a committee under the leadership of AVM B.D Solomon which drove the reconciliation efforts and petition signing exercise at the stadium.
The members expressed their eagerness to resume their activities and social events at the club, adding that the renovation would enhance their overall experience.
Iyabo Adebola thanked Wike and the BOT for their efforts, noting that the renovation of the IBB Golf club was necessary and long overdue as the club was a vital recreational and social hub in Abuja.
Adebola stressed that the IBB Golf Club was a vital part of Abuja’s recreational and social scene.
She noted that the club, which was built around 30 years ago, has indeed become worn out due to excessive use and lack of maintenance, necessitating a major renovation.
Nuhu Ahmad also expressed gratitude to Wike and the BOT for their hardwork and efforts at reviving the club from its comatose state, adding that the renovation would bring the club up to international standards, making it a premier recreation and tourism destination in Nigeria.
Matta Ushani appreciated all the time and energy put into making the club a household name again by the minister and the BOT, adding that the club’s renovation would boost community spirit and provide a better experience for its over 5,000 members.
A.U. Bala on his part, praised Wike for the fatherly role he had played so far in steering the club onto the right part.
Bala also thanked the minister for his wisdom in appointing intellectuals and capable hands as BOT members to run the affairs of the club, adding that the economic benefits of renovating the club to international standard were enormous as it would become a tourist center and attract alot of investments.
Pius James commended the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman and members for their tireless efforts in appealing to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to reopen the IBB Golf Club.
James welcomed the minister’s visit to inspect the facilities, seeing it as a positive step towards the club’s renovation and reopening.
“I want to especially praise the BOT for their persistence in advocating for the club’s reopening.
“The news of the minister’s visit to inspect the facilities at the club is indeed a significant development, which indicates progress towards the club’s renovation.
“My expectation is that the renovation will enhance the club’s facilities and overall experience for its members,” he said.
The NGF President and BoT member of the club Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the visit, thanked Wike for listening to the appeal of the members to reopen the club.
Runsewe lauded Wike, saying that, “Mr. Project is now Mr. Golf Legend.
“A man who can come and save IBB Golf Club is no less than a golf legend of our time.”
He also expressed his gratitude to all the members who turned out en masse to sign a petition for the reopening of the club, adding that all their efforts were now beginning to yield positive results.
Runsewe had organised a week-long petition signing exercise at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium last month, where over 2,000 members expressed their support and appealed to Wike to intervene and reopen the course.
The NGF President said that upon reopening, the club will implement strict security checks and member profiling to maintain discipline and prestige.
He also said that the issue of the health and well-being of the members, the maintenance of the course, and youth development were top on the agenda of the new BOT.
