Sports
Consultant Wants Amateur, Professional Golfers’ Collaboration
A golf consultant, Samuel
Emehelu, has in Lagos, called for collaboration between amateur and professional golfers in the development of the sport in the country.
Emehelu told newsmen that such a collaborative initiative would help to popularise the sport.
He said that to achieve this, sponsors should identify with open championships that would expose the country’s potential.
Emehelu, a former board member of the Nigeria Golf Federation, said that emphasis should be on the grassroots where emerging talents could rise through the amateur cadre to the professional level.
“Our involvement in golf investment has always been about amateur golfers to the detriment of the professional arm of the sport.
“Nigerian golf has always been toward sustaining amateur golfers which is not terribly bad but when it conflicts with each other, then it is unacceptable,’’ the consultant said.
Emehelu said that there was need to first embark on tour of the states to carry out an assessment of the available facilities on the ground.
“If am to implement this proposal, I will first go round the states to promote the sport and possibly build a golf range at least to get kids to practise and imbibe the rudiments of the game,’’ Emehelu said.
He said that there was also need to attract youngsters from tender age and make golf facilities easily accessible to them as well as making the equipment more affordable.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.