Golf in Nigeria is gradually moving beyond its reputation as a leisure pursuit for the wealthy, with corporate-sponsored tournaments, private resorts, sports tourism and professional competitions creating new opportunities for growth. However, questions remain about accessibility, funding and the development of young players.
Meka Niyi Olowola, a passionate golfer, believes the sport needs a stronger development structure, wider access to facilities and sustained private-sector investment to realise its potential.
In this interview with Anthony Nlebem, he reflects on his journey in golf, the challenges facing Nigerian professionals, the commercial opportunities for businesses and the need to build a pathway for young talents to compete internationally. Excerpts:
How did you get involved in golf, and what has your journey in the sport taught you?
Golf began with a question that stayed with me for four years. In 2003, shortly after joining a new organisation, a colleague asked if I played. We had been invited to an international corporate golf outing, and I did not want to be left out. However, life took over, and it was not until 2007 that I joined Ikoyi Club in Lagos and picked up a golf club.
I thought I was learning a sport, but I was also learning about myself. Golf has taught me patience, resilience and the discipline to begin again after a bad shot. It has shown me that progress is rarely a straight line: you make a decision, live with the outcome and prepare for the next one. What began as curiosity gradually became a habit and, eventually, a passion.
What have been the biggest milestones in your golfing journey?
My proudest personal milestone is scoring 74 in a practice round and 75 in a tournament at Ikoyi Club. For those unfamiliar with golf, these scores represent the number of shots taken to complete the course; the lower the score, the better. They were particularly meaningful because Ikoyi is a challenging course.
I am also proud to be a single-digit handicap golfer, which reflects a high level of consistency and skill. Beyond personal achievements, I enjoy sharing what golf has taught me through my weekly column, The Long Game, where I explore the sport’s lessons in leadership, judgement and character.
What are the major challenges facing Nigerian golfers who want to compete professionally at home and internationally?
Financing is the biggest challenge. Professional golfers must pay for travel, entry fees, equipment and coaching before any prize money comes in. Without sponsorship, many Nigerian players cannot afford to compete through a full season.
Opportunity is another challenge. Nigeria has not had enough competitive events to support professional careers, forcing players to travel abroad in search of ranking points. That is beginning to change. The Sunshine Development Tour has brought international competition to Lagos, while the Nigerian Open is expected to return in 2027 after nearly three decades.
The talent is here, but players need sustained backing to compete at home and take advantage of opportunities abroad.
How accessible is golf to young Nigerians, given perceptions that it is an expensive and exclusive sport?
The perception is not entirely unfounded. Unlike football or table tennis, golf can be expensive to take up. Clubs, lessons, green fees and membership all come at a cost, particularly in Nigeria. In Lagos, a city of more than 20 million people, there are only about four practical courses, which limits access. Time is another barrier. A full round can take several hours, making it difficult for young professionals to fit the game around work.
Still, golf may be more accessible than many people assume. I encourage people, especially those outside Lagos, to ask their local clubs about beginner programmes. Many clubs have weekly guest days, and there are shorter ways to play. You do not have to start with a full round; a lesson and a few holes can be enough.
Lakowe Lakes has also offered a more affordable option through its short par-three Marshie Course, although I am not sure whether that programme is still available. I also tell people to maintain an interest in the game. An opportunity to play may come later, as it did for me.
What needs to change in Nigeria’s golf ecosystem to develop more players capable of competing internationally?
We need to make it easier for young people to discover the game and develop their talent. That means expanding junior programmes and equipment support, while investing in qualified coaches who can guide players from their first lesson through to competitive golf.
A structured pathway is the missing piece. Too many of our professionals turn pro through routes that were never designed to prepare them for international standards, and that becomes evident when they compete on bigger stages. We need more academies dedicated to producing professional-level players, with clear curricula, competition schedules, fitness and mental training, and a deliberate pathway from junior golf to the professional ranks.
Godwin Okoko is a good example. We are celebrating him now, but his success came from a deliberate plan, not luck. The academy that built that pathway no longer exists, and that is a real loss.
We also need a clear competition ladder, from junior events to domestic tournaments and recognised international tours. The return of the Nigerian Open, Sunshine Development Tour events and initiatives being considered by the Nigeria Golf Federation are useful building blocks. However, these opportunities will make a lasting difference only if players and organisers receive sustained support.
How would you assess the commercial potential of golf in Nigeria?
The potential is real, but the sport’s current commercial model has its limits. Sponsorship is concentrated largely around amateur golf, which offers valuable networking opportunities but may not provide the excitement needed to attract a wider audience. Many courses are not designed for spectators, and there is little serious television coverage.
As a result, Nigerian golf depends heavily on people who already love the game. That is difficult to sustain commercially because sponsors also look for visibility and audience reach.
The opportunity lies in growing participation, staging more professional tournaments and making the game easier to watch and follow. South Africa shows what a more developed golf industry can support, with around 420 courses and an estimated 40,000 jobs a year. Nigeria is still developing, but private sponsors are backing events and international tours are beginning to come here.
A few years ago, the Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria approached me to support efforts to grow the sport. As part of that work, we met with an official from the European Tour to explore sponsorship from the International Olympic Committee to develop professionals in Nigeria. We did not get very far, largely because multilateral bodies tend to work through national federations. In Nigeria, that responsibility sits with the Nigeria Golf Federation. I will leave that experience for another discussion.
The benefits of growing the sport extend beyond the course. They include opportunities in coaching, caddying, course maintenance, retail, hospitality and transport. With sustained investment and stronger media coverage, golf could become a more significant business platform in Nigeria.
What opportunities exist for investors, brands and businesses to use golf for marketing, networking and customer engagement?
The opportunities already exist, and some businesses are acting on them. Several established corporates support tournaments here. However, the lack of television coverage and spectator access limits the opportunities, with sponsorship concentrated mainly on events organised for recreational golfers.
Golf also gives businesses something few other settings can offer: hours of relaxed interaction with clients and partners. A round, a Pro-Am or a corporate golf day can build relationships in a way a conventional meeting cannot. That is why golf is widely used for networking and customer engagement.
More opportunities are emerging. We are in discussions with a leading international brand to bring a major competition to Nigeria next year. For a sponsor, an event of that nature offers visibility among an audience of decision-makers and an association with international-standard competition.
What can golf clubs, tournament organisers and governing bodies do to make the sport more attractive to sponsors?
Each has a role to play. Clubs can give professional golfers greater access to their courses for practice and host more professional events. Regular access helps players improve, while competitions give fans and sponsors more opportunities to see them perform.
Kenya offers a useful example. Through the Sunshine Development Tour, Kenyan players can earn ranking points and progress towards opportunities on bigger stages, including the Big Easy and the Sunshine Tour. They have created a platform for local golfers to compete, improve their rankings and gain access to higher-level tournaments.
I am pleased that this is beginning to happen here. The SDT Tour has launched, with the event at Lakowe Lakes already completed and Alpha-Bravo coming on board. We need more opportunities like these. They will encourage professionals to practise with greater purpose, improve areas of their game that need attention and gain the experience required to compete internationally.
Look at how Sunday Olapade and Epe Francis are making us proud. Imagine how much more they could achieve with adequate financial support, and how many more talents Nigeria could produce if the right structures were in place.
We must also take golf into schools, just as we do with football, swimming and basketball. That is how we can introduce children to the game early and build a stronger foundation for the future. I remember speaking to you three years ago about the need for a deliberate plan to develop golf. That plan must include a clear professional pathway and a sustained effort to grow the game from the schools upwards.
What role should the private sector play in developing golf academies, junior competitions and professional pathways?
The private sector can support every stage of the pathway, from introducing children to golf to helping professionals compete internationally.
The Awa Ibraheem Junior Open Championship deserves special mention. Now in its thirteenth year, the championship has done exceptional work developing young players from across Nigeria and giving them a platform to compete for world ranking points. That kind of sustained commitment is exactly what the sport needs.
Lakowe Lakes’ junior programme is also introducing children to the game, while events such as the CIO Golf Classic and Alpha-Bravo Classic are helping strengthen the professional calendar. Major international brands are beginning to take an interest as well.
We are also in discussions with a major European brand about sponsoring a signature tournament next year. Such partnerships can help attract investment, improve the quality of competitions and create more opportunities for Nigerian players.
Are Nigerian golf tournaments doing enough to demonstrate measurable returns on investment to sponsors?
Yes, they are doing enough to connect brands with recreational golfers. The problem is that we do not have as many tournaments for professionals as we need as a country.
The challenge is to expand beyond the existing amateur-focused model. More professional events, better media coverage and greater spectator access would give sponsors wider visibility and help them measure the impact of their investment. We need to create an environment where supporting golf is not only about networking but also about reaching new audiences and developing the sport.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
