Akwaibom State Plans Golf Academy
The Akwa Ibom State government has said it would establish a golf academy for young Nigerians from nursery to primary schools.
Ibom Golf Club captain, Mr. Usenobong Akpabio, said on Saturday that courses in the academy would be organized for pupils during the holidays in order not to interfere in their normal school programs.
He said, “We are planning a golf academy in Akwa Ibom, where young people from nursery, primary and secondary schools will start their lessons.
Akpabio, who spoke during the Nigerian Navy Diamond Jubilee celebration, noted that it was regrettable that the state had the most beautiful golf course in the country, yet the interest in the game remained low.
“We have a beautiful golf course in the state, yet many people do not even know that this thing exists here. We are only playing golf for leisure and exercise here.”
The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, Commodore David Adeniran, said the ship embarked on the golf tournament to create awareness in Akwa Ibom about the diamond jubilee of the Nigerian Navy.
Adeniran expressed hope that the golf tourney as part of the Nigerian Navy contribution to the development of golf in the state, would help grow the sport in the state.
Akwa Ibom is one of Nigeria’s 36 states, with a population of over 5 million people and more than 10 million people in diaspora. It was created in 1987 from the former Cross River State and is currently the highest oil- and gas-producing state in the country. The state’s capital is Uyo, with over 500,000 inhabitants.
Akwa Ibom has an airport (Akwa Ibom International Airport) and two major seaports on the Atlantic Ocean with a proposed construction of a world-class seaport Ibaka Seaport at Oron. The state also boasts of a 30,000-seater ultramodern sports complex. Akwa Ibom state is home to the Ibom E-Library, a world-class information center. Along with English, the main spoken languages are Ibibio, Annang, Eket and Oron language.
