I’m building future golfers to promote tourism -Oore of Moba
- Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre
- Wednesday, 06 February 2013 00:00
- Nigerian Tribune
THE
Oore of Moba land, Oba James Adedapo Poopola has said that he took
delight in training teens of his kingdom in the game of golf because
“Golf tourism is the order of the day and will become the business of
tomorrow in Nigeria.”Oba Pooopola made this assertion during an exclusive interview with Tribune Tourism Magazine on the Golf course of Rosani Golf and Recreation Centre, Erinmope, Ekiti State while conducting a training session for a group of teens in his Kingdom
“Golf is a game which propels people from leaving their area of domicile to other places in search of fulfilling their passion, horning their skills, exercising their physical frames, meeting of men and women on the same page and peering in competition of love and brotherliness. It involves heavy movement of cash and business transaction. It is a multi – billion dollar business which has sustained some economies and which any nation wishing to develop will not relegate to the background.”
Oba Poopola pointed out that “As a golfer who has participated in many tournaments here in Nigeria and outside, I am able to see the benefits of this wonderful game beyond the tee-off and the travelling experience. I have seen the whale of money involved. I have seen how golf tourism has facilitated business, development, mobilise wealth and empower people. And I believe I have to tap into this not only by playing and junketing all over but set my people on the course, particularly the teens who are going to be the leaders and deciders of tomorrow’s fate for the tapping of the goodies in the game of golf.”
He pointed out that “And as providence will have it, Prince Christopher Anyikaye established Rosani Golf and Recreation Centre, a 9-whole affair here in Erinmope and we decided to tap this awesome opportunity not only at satisfying our past time, but at setting a revolution in the training and production of professional golfers from our teens here.”
Oba Poopola said, “This vision would not have been possible without the logistic and financial support of Prince Anyikaye, who established this course, who was not only the first trainer of the teens, but went a step further by sponsoring a foreign trainer to train the teenagers of this local government on how to tee-off. Without the temerity of purpose of Prince Anyikaye who has spent and still spending a lot on the maintenance of the golf course, we would not be where we are today.”
“We are investing on our teens now as related to golf tourism because of the future. This is the only Golf club in Ekiti where teens are deliberately being trained for the purpose of becoming future champions. We are happy that the result is manifesting now as one of our trainees, Yinka Olaniyi has won and beat international teen golfers in competition and tournaments. He has been performing excellently in all the tournament games he participated in.
“At Chief Ade Ojo’s Smoking Golf Course in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, he came first and in Ibadan Tiger Wood Open, he was first. So we have potentials. Yinka is just one of the frontline boys who started playing on the golf course here, so we are trying to develop future champions and this is the only golf course in the whole of the Southwest that has taken the training of teen golfers and children seriously. We expose them to other golf courses. We have taken them to Ada, Ilorin, Ilara Mokun, Ibadan and other places where there are tournaments just for them to be exposed and trained,” the traditional ruler explained.
Oba Popoola who commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi for his support for the Golf Club appealed to corporate organisations and individuals to come to the aid of the club.
“It has not been easy financing and maintaining this golf course. To us, it has not got to the standard of a 9-whole golf course of our dream. A standard 9 – hole requires a lot of financial commitment and no single individual in this environment in the prevailing economic circumstance is capable of financing a golf course to a standard level, so we are looking for well-meaning Nigerians, sport philanthropists who will come to assist us in getting a standard 9-hole golf course and a befitting guest house.
“The government of Ekiti State has tried and it is still trying. The state’s former governor, Chief Segun Oni promised to dedicate this golf course for the young secondary school boys and girls and the future golfers in Ekiti, and he was unable to do much before. When the new government came, we had a launching here last year February, when the incumbent governor, Dr. Fayemi made a cash donation which was what we used in starting up the club house and we had to stop construction when the donation was exhausted. Whatever we have been able to muster is being used to pay the field keepers and maintain the golf course.”
