By Ikenna Nwokedi
History was made on Boxing Day, 26th December 2023 as the Octagon Twin Lake Golf Course, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State was officially inaugurated with top golfers drawn from different golf courses in the country all in attendance.
The opening of the Octagon Twin Lake Golf Club which is the first in Anambra State also saw the commencement of the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup as part of activities for launching of the first phase of the Golf Club.
Declaring the course open during Tee off, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Prof. Charles Esimone, described the event as remarkable as the vision kick-started when he came on board as the VC with physical mapping of the course in the revamped master plan of the institution in 2019.
Prof. Esimone informed that although the establishment of the Golf Course project had some set backs which were environmental, administrative and financial in nature, he kept faith with the vision which was aided by the advise and support from Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye (Juhel) and Chief Dr. Ikenna Okafor (Ide Akwaeze) with Dr. Uche Ngenegbo playing a very pivotal role in making the dream a reality.
The scholar thanked the trustees hoping that with their support the Golf Course will attain higher heights within a few years.
In his remarks, one of the principal trustees and platinum sponsor, Chief Sir Dr. Ikenna Okafor (Ide Akwaeze) stated that it is a thing of joy that under the present administration of Prof. Charles Esimone as UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Anambra State can boast of a Golf Course of her own.
Dr. Okafor commended Prof. Esimone for keying into the vision of ensuring that Anambra now have a golf course, he called on Anambrarians all over the world to be part of the project and ensure that the Octagon Twin Lake Golf Course is developed to a world class golf course.
Also speaking, another top trustee member and CEO Juhel Group of Companies, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye described the UNIZIK Octagon Golf Course as unique coming at a time the state seem to be yearning for one. He called on members of the golf course to make the Octagon Golf Course to be unique and better than IBB and Ikoyi Golf Courses.
On his part, Captain of the UNIZIK Twin Lake Golf Course, Prince Emeka Eze described UNIZIK Golf Course as historic bearing in mind that it is domiciled in a federal university and first of its kind in the state. He affirmed that the members will ensure the golf course attains global status within months and years to come.
Re-echoing the views of Prince Eze, the Vice-Captain and Director of Operations and Project, Dr. Uche Ngenegbo informed that the inaugurated of the UNIZIK Octagon Twin Lake Golf Course is in phases with the first phase being the opening of the course, marking out, fencing and having a first competitive event while the other phases will accommodate erecting a structure as the Golf Club house and Guest House in months to come.
He informed that currently the Golf Course has 187 registered members while thanking the VC for the vision and initiative.
Highpoints of the occasion was fundraising for the project with Bronze Sponsor pegged at N1million donation, Gold sponsors at N3million, Diamond sponsors at N5million, Platinum sponsor at N10million while Lifetime sponsor goes for N20 million.
In the category for Ladies, Angela Okoye emerged the overall winner while Ilo Ndubueze came tops in the male category.
