Lalong Urges Investment in Golf to Grow Tourism and Hospitality
Simon Lalong, Vice Chairman of the Golfers Federation of Nigeria and former Plateau State Governor, has urged increased investment in golf as a means to strengthen Nigeria's tourism and hospitality industries. He made the appeal on Tuesday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, during an interaction with journalists at the Lafia Golf Course following a golf kitty held to mark Nasarawa State's 30th anniversary.
Nasarawa State was carved out of Plateau State on October 1, 1996, and will officially clock 30 years on Thursday, with a series of events and ceremonies lined up for the celebration.
Highlighting golf's economic potential, Lalong called on governments at all levels to give more attention to developing the sport and its infrastructure. He also praised the progress Nasarawa has recorded since its creation from Plateau State and advocated for closer collaboration between the two states to advance sports and other sectors.
According to Lalong, Nasarawa has made strides in tourism but requires a standard golf course to complement its hospitality efforts. "You can't do tourism without golf. Anytime you have a good golf course, people will come in to relax, and when they come to play, they ask what kind of business to do," he said.
The former governor explained that he sponsored the golf kitty as part of the activities to celebrate Nasarawa at 30 and to deepen ties between Nasarawa and Plateau states.
While acknowledging the state's growth, Lalong noted that the Lafia Golf Course possesses the land, appealing topography and favourable weather needed to host a championship 18-hole course. "I enjoyed the front nine and the back nine, but the course is still challenging. It is very easy to build a complete 18-hole, par-72 course here. The land is there," he said.
He appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to provide equipment for maintaining the fairways and greens, pointing out that the lack of a tractor and mowers remains a significant obstacle for the club. "Nasarawa is doing a lot of farming and mining. It is the same tractors you use there that you deploy to shape fairways and greens. The grasses here are very good, like Port Harcourt grasses," he said.
In his remarks, Governor Sule, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Jibrin Ibrahim, reaffirmed the state government's dedication to grassroots sports development. He said the administration would keep working to make Nasarawa a hub for sports and youth empowerment, with special focus on golf.
The commissioner stated that the government believes in grassroots sports development and will not relent in its efforts to grow sports and create opportunities for young people across the state.
Also speaking, the Captain of the Lafia Golf Club, Tony Effa, and the Director of Media and Publicity of the Nigeria Golf Federation, Thaddeus Yilmen, emphasised the value of investing in golf, which they described as one of the world's most prestigious sports. They urged the government and private sector to put resources into developing the sport and to form partnerships that would enhance golf facilities and participation.
The event concluded with the presentation of gifts to winners of the Nasarawa at 30 golf kitty. Lalong also received an award from Governor Sule in recognition of his contributions to golf development in Nasarawa and other states across the country.
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