Nigeria Open golf tournament set for return in November 2027

The Nigeria Open Golf Tournament will return in November 2027 after a 28-year absence, the Nigeria Golf Federation has announced. The event is scheduled for November 16 to 20, 2027. NGF president Otunba Olusegun Runsewe disclosed the plan in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

He said the federation had been preparing for the tournament as part of efforts to reposition Nigerian golf and bring its organisation in line with international standards. The tournament was last held in 1999. It was staged mainly at Ikoyi Club in Lagos between 1969 and 1999, with the final editions held at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja.

Runsewe said more than 20 countries from Africa, Europe and other continents were expected to participate, with between 150 and 200 golfers projected to compete. The federation is discussing Lakowe Golf Resort in Lagos as a possible venue. The planned event is a 64-hole, four-day Pro-Am tournament with world-ranking status and an Amateur World Ranking connection.

Runsewe said the winners would have opportunities to qualify for international circuits and that a competitive prize purse would be offered to attract professional golfers. He said preparations included a new social media strategy, a website, insurance policies and adoption of the World Handicap System index. The system, he said, would provide a common framework for golf clubs across Nigeria.

The NGF president added that consultancy and marketing companies had been engaged for sponsorship, branding and promotion, with successful firms expected to be announced within weeks. He said the federation had delayed the tournament’s return to build the capacity needed for a sustainable event, while youth development and coaching education would also be priorities.