By Suleiman Dalhatu

Nasarawa State government has once again reiterated its desire to continue to support sporting activities in the state even as it threw a challenge at banks and private individuals in the state to support the Lafia Golf club.

State deputy Governor, Chief John Mike Abdul said this at the closing ceremony of the Nasarawa state Golf tournament in commemoration of the Democracy Day, held at the Lafia Golf course along Makurdi road.

He said government is determined to do all it can to ensure support for all sporting activities including Golf, which he said draws participants from length and breadth of the country to the state, thereby availing the state an opportunity to showcase its great potentials to the world.

Chief Abdul further said “Nasarawa state stands to benefit from such visits by people from all walks of life. Adding that in a bid to boost such activities, the state government has a befitting resort at the Farm Ruwa International Golf course which will be commissioned soon, while a memorandum of understanding has been signed for the consturctuion of a 5-star hotel in Lafia.

He called on Banks and other private individuals to give their support to the Lafia Golf club by renovating the golf House and the field of play as part of their corporate social responsibility and in supporting government gestures towards sporting activities.

Earlier in an address of welcome, captain of Lafia Golf Club. Honourable Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo said the club took off in 2006 when individual came together and made contribution towards its successful take-off.

He said from the date of take-off, the club has won learels and partook in several tournaments involving Otukpo, Makurdi, Ilorin and Ibadan. He said if the necessary machinery and finances is put in place, Lafia Golf club will be the best in Nigeria, but not without government coming to their aid.

At the end of the tourney which drew participate from the Otukpo, Makurdi, Jaji and Jos Golf clubs, prizes were awarded to winners with A.K Arin from Jos Golf club winning the overall trophy presented to him by the state Deputy Governor.

The event was attended by the speaker of Nasarawa state House of Assembly, Secretary to the state Government and Honorable commissioner of sports among others.