The Meristem Open by Meristem Securities will launch the new Professional Golf Development Tour that tees off her first event at the prestigious Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos from Thursday, January 26th to Saturday, January 28th, 2023 in Lagos.
According to Meristem’s head of Brand and Corporate Communications, Adefemi Taiwo, the idea of the Tour was birthed as Meristem’s Corporate Responsibility to society.
She said, “Nigeria’s athleticism, industry, and sporting talent have long been evident in the game of golf, and this project is set to help us underscore that. We are very confident that the PGD Tour can be a platform upon which the best golfing talents would get wings to fly, and, bring value and honor to all stakeholders.
“Meristem, as a Wealth Manager, will commit its resources; human, management, and, in a way financially to the Tour, while leveraging key relationships to drive this vision. It is for us, a corporate responsibility to help this group of athletes who have a lot of potential locked within them get closer than they have ever been to achieving their full potential.”
The inaugural event for the Tour is aptly sponsored by the firm, which said they hope other corporates will sign-on and support the growth of the game, through the platform they have created; the Professional Golf Development Tour.
“With all said, the inaugural event of The Meristem Open is a statement in leading all our friends and the golfing community to join us in making this happen for the future of the game, the country, and a budding generation that is brimming with talent, audacity and wanting to re-write history.” She added.
Golf Manager at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, where the inaugural event would be hosted, Femi Olagbenro, said 83 professional players and category one amateurs have confirmed through online registration to take part in the inaugural event The Meristem Open.
“This number is as at the moment and, does not include other classes of amateur players that have been invited to grace the event and experience the new Tour and Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate lifestyle edge. I am confident the Tour is taking off on a strong footing as we have players from Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Zimbabwe already registered for the event. “He said.
Wole Abegunde, the Group Managing Director of Meristem Securities said he is very positive about the potential of golfing talents in the country and said players like Peter Akakasiaka, who was the first African to qualify for the finals of the British Open in 1987. He said Lateef Lasisi, Late Paul Odoh, Late Ali Abdullahi, Late Christian Godfrey, and Oche Odoh are all evidences that some measure of corporate support could help Nigeria make some mark on the professional golf stage.
“We are very confident that the PGD Tour can be a platform upon which the best golfing talents would get wings to fly, bring value and honor to all stakeholders.”
The Meristem Open has a prize purse of N10 million naira and would be decided over 56 holes.
