Golf: FirstBank raises stakes with ₦34.5 million purse for Lagos Open

Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Akinwumi Akintola; Nnaemeka Ejeh, Group Executive, Commercial Banking South Division of FirstBank; and Golf Captain Afolabi Balogun

The 65th edition of the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship will begin on 16 November at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938, with a total prize purse of ₦34.5 million for the professional category.

Organisers disclosed this at a pre-tournament briefing in Lagos, where they outlined activities for the annual competition, sponsored by FirstBank of Nigeria Limited.

The event will begin with a caddie competition on 16 November, followed by the Championship Kitty on Wednesday. The Corporate Challenge for Charity is scheduled for Thursday, 19 November, while the main amateur championship will run from 20 to 22 November.

The main event, which is open to golfers with handicaps of 0–9, will be played over 54 holes.

The professional category will offer a total prize purse of ₦34.5 million, with the winner set to receive ₦10 million.

Speaking at the briefing, FirstBank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting golf and sporting development.

Represented by Nnaemeka Ejeh, Group Executive, Commercial Banking, South Division, Mr Alebiosu said golf embodies values that align with the bank’s corporate principles.

“In the game of golf, success is never accidental; it is earned through discipline, patience, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, and these values equally define FirstBank,” he said.

He added that golf goes beyond scores, describing it as a test of mental focus and consistency that requires continuous improvement.

“While achievements on the golf course matter, equally important are focus, fair play, discipline, and integrity,” he said.

The Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Akinwumi Akintola, described the 65th edition as a milestone that reflects the consistency and sustained investment required to maintain a major sporting competition.

He said the championship has become one of the most recognised events on Nigeria’s golf calendar.

The Captain of the club’s Golf Section, Afolabi Balogun, said the competition had grown beyond an annual contest to become an important platform for developing golf in Nigeria.

The Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship is certified by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), an international ranking system for amateur golfers.

Tunde Eludini is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria where he studied International Relations. He is a Senior Correspondent coordinating the sports section for PREMIUM TIMES. Twitter: @tundeyeludini