The National Sports Commission (NSC) has praised the President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Olusegun Runsewe, for his unwavering commitment to grassroots development of golf across the country.

The commendation came on Thursday in Abuja during the official unveiling of golf equipment donated to the NGF by the prestigious Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland.

Speaking on behalf of NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, Deputy Director Shola Fayoyiwa applauded Runsewe’s dedication to promoting the sport at the foundational level, noting that his leadership is beginning to yield tangible results in increasing participation and building the nation’s presence in global golf.

“Runsewe’s efforts in revitalising the game of golf in Nigeria and making the country competitive on the global golf stage are highly commendable,” Fayoyiwa said. “Before we can have anyone representing Nigeria internationally, we must first identify them locally—and that requires the right equipment and platforms.”

He added that the NSC is encouraged by the NGF’s success in drawing international attention to Nigeria’s grassroots golf development and urged other sports federations to seek similar international collaborations and sponsorships.

“The donation by the R&A is a welcome development, and we hope other international bodies will follow suit. This kind of support is critical as we aim to build sustainable sports ecosystems in Nigeria,” he said.

In his remarks, NGF President Olusegun Runsewe reaffirmed his vision to transform golf into a mainstream sport in Nigeria. He disclosed that plans are underway to sponsor promising talents for professional training abroad, as part of broader efforts to establish Nigeria’s presence in elite international tournaments.

Runsewe also underscored the economic potential of golf on the continent, revealing that the African golf market is projected to circulate around $4 billion in 2025. He emphasized the need to build a golf economy in Nigeria that would create jobs, attract investment, and foster tourism.

“As of today, no Nigerian golfer is participating in the Masters Open in Augusta,” he said. “But I promise you, from what we have started today, in the next two years, names like Okafor, Chidinma, Abubakar, and Olademeji will be recognized globally—just as we now celebrate Nigerian football stars.”

He extended his gratitude to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club for their generous donation and to the NSC for its continued support, assuring that the equipment would be effectively deployed to support emerging talents across the country.

The event marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s ambition to become a force in global golf, leveraging strategic partnerships and long-term grassroots investment.