Lagos Open marks 65th anniversary with N34m purse

FirstBank has reaffirmed its commitment to sports development as it marks 65 consecutive years of sponsoring the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship.

The milestone edition was unveiled at a press conference held at Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, on Tuesday ahead of the week-long tournament scheduled for November 16 to 22.

FirstBank announced a total professional prize purse of N34m for the tournament, with the professional champion set to receive the N10m top prize.

Speaking at the event, the Group Executive, Commercial Banking South, Nnaemeka Ejeh, who represented the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said its continued investment in the championship reflected a long-term commitment to developing golf in Nigeria.

“In the game of golf, success is never accidental. It is earned through discipline, patience, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, values that equally define FirstBank. For over six decades, FirstBank has proudly remained the biggest promoter of golf in Nigeria.

“We see it as a legacy investment where we nurture talent and grow them up. We look long-term, not short-term,” he said.

The tournament programme begins on November 16 with the arrival of participants and the presentation of entertainment trophies. The club anniversary kitty follows on November 18, with golfers from across the country expected to participate.

The charity golf tournament will hold on November 19, with corporate organisations registering teams to raise funds for charitable causes. FirstBank will match the proceeds raised and donate the funds to designated charity homes.

The professional competition is scheduled to tee off on November 20, with players from across the country expected to compete. The tournament will conclude on November 21 and 22, with the cut and final rounds, alongside golf clinics for children and adults.

The charity initiative remains a key component of the championship’s social impact, building on previous donations to institutions such as Pacelli School for the Blind.

• Wreckers of Nigeria’s economy
• NRC retirees seek divine intervention over homes takeover
• FirstBank deploys 24-hour self-service banking at UniAbuja

Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Akinwumi Akintola, commended FirstBank for sustaining the partnership over the decades.

“65 years is no small achievement. It represents much more than the longevity of a sporting competition; it is a remarkable story of consistency, commitment, institutional partnership, and sustained investment in sporting excellence. At Ikoyi Club 1938, our philosophy is captured in our motto: Global harmony through recreation,” he said.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Aravo Consulting, Ayo Adegboye, also praised the enduring partnership between the bank and its corporate supporters.

“Our commitment to the FirstBank Open Championship every year is intentional. We’ve been doing this for the last three years. FirstBank has stood the test of time, being around for over a century, so why do we need to reinvent the wheel?” he said.

Golf Captain of Ikoyi Club 1938, Afolabi Balogun, also commended the sponsors for sustaining the championship.

“We particularly appreciate your determination to sustain this legacy and raise the bar with every edition of the championship. We also recognise and appreciate the invaluable contribution of your partners and sponsors who have continued to support this worthy initiative,” he said.

Defending professional champion Monday Ese, who won the N10m top prize last year, expressed appreciation to FirstBank and said the championship had played a significant role in his career.

“It has been an amazing run from FirstBank because I remember when I started this tournament as an amateur. My first appearance was fifth place. I saw the gift they gave me, and I said to myself that I could do better.

“Then I turned pro, and FirstBank changed the story that every pro who wins it will go home with N10m. We were shocked that day, and it was a very big boost,” he said.