Over 160 golfers attend golf tournament for Umana’s elevation

More than 160 golfers across Nigeria participated in the just-concluded Golf tournament for the appointment of Obong Umana Okon Umana as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Organised by Friends of Umana Umana, the two-day tournament was held at Ibom Golf & Country Club, Nwaniba, Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The event which started on Friday, with a welcome cocktail at the Piano Bar of the hotel for residents and visiting golfers who came in from various parts of the country for the tournament was rounded off on Saturday, October 8.
The tournament, which drew participants from the Nigerian golfing community including some former State Governors, serving and past Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, State House of Assembly Members.
Other participants were Commissioners and other government functionaries, traditional rulers, also had captains of industries from more than160 golfers competing for several prizes across several categories.
The ceremonial tee-off was performed by the first Military Governor of Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff. The tournament got underway by a shotgun format which saw all flights of players teeing off simultaneously by 8:00am from all the 18 Holes of the Ibom Golf Course.
According to the result released by the Resident Golf Professional of Ibom Golf & Country Club, Mr. Emmanuel Ochayi, at the end of the competition, Bako Emmanuel playing off handicap 3, posted the Overall Best Net Score of the tournament.
Mr. Ochayi stated that in the Men Category 1; the Captain of Ibom Golf & Country Club, Rt. Hon. Usenobong Akpabio posted the Best Net Score, while Agib Hughes was the 1st runner up and Udeme Esset emerged 2nd runner up.
In Men Category 2; Otu Ekanem posted the Best Net Score; while the immediate past Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Senator Emmanuel Anosike was the 1st runner up; Barr. Edidiong Idiong emerged the 2nd runner up.
In Men Category 3; Paul Erokoro, SAN, posted the Best Net Score while James Edet was the 1st runner up and Isuamfon Archibong emerged the 2nd runner up.
In Men Category 4; Offiong Abia posted the Best Net Score while Mobayonle Ogunwumiju was the 1st runner up and Ubong Ubiam emerged the 2nd runner up.
In Seniors’ Category; Barr. Uwem Ekanem posted the Best Net Score while Abel Abia-Bassey was the 1st runner up and Major Gen. E. R. Chioba (Rtd.) emerged the 2nd runner up.
In Ladies Category 1; Mrs. Patience Akpan posted the Best Net Score while Givens Agbovu emerged 1st runner up and Aniekan Akpan was the 2nd runner up.
In Ladies Category 2; Cynthia Oare posted the Best Net Score while Maryanne Kissandra emerged the 1st runner up and Mandu Williams was the 2nd runner up.
Meanwhile, Dr. Iniobong Essien won the Nearest to the Pin in the Veteran Category; Gladness Archibong won the Nearest to the Pin in the Ladies Category; while Mr. Samuel Ekpenyong won Nearest to the Pin in the Men Category.
The Longest Drive, Men Category was won by Mr. Bako Emmanuel while the Longest drive, Ladies Category was won by Aniekan Akpan, and the Longest drive in the veteran category was won by Engr. Akan Udi.
High point of the event was the presentation of prizes to winners in the various categories at the Club house of the Ibom Golf & Country Club.
In a thank-you message, Obong Umana Umana appreciated Ibom Golf & Country Club for hosting the event while thanking his friends for organising the tournament, expressing his delight to all golfers who participated at the event.
He thanked God for his appointment and thanked President Buhari for finding him worthy for the ministerial appointment, promising to put in his best in the service of the nation.
Dignitaries at the event included the former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada (Rtd.); the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Obong Nsima Ekere and the immediate past Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Senator Emmanuel Anosike.
Others were Major Gen. E.R. Chioba (Rtd.); Senator Sanusi Daggash; former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Executive Director of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei; a Captain of Mr. Nasiru Dano, among others.

Report was filed by Barr. Edidiong Idiong, Chairman, Organising Committee for Friends of Umana Umana.