A total of 297 golfers from Nigeria and abroad, have registered to participate in the 2nd edition of the ICMA Professional Services sponsored Pro-Am Open championship, scheduled to tee off at the Ilorin Golf Club, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
The golfers will compete in three categories: professionals, amateurs, and Category 1, in the event expected to run for four days, from Thursday, October 30th, to Sunday, November 2nd, 2025.
The tournament promises to be one of the most exciting events on Nigeria’s golf calendar this year and will feature a fascinating blend of professional golfers and elite amateurs from across the country and beyond. It is designed to promote the sport’s growth in Kwara State while fostering camaraderie and healthy competition among participants.
Speaking at the press conference today, Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Ilorin Golf Club, the club captain, Jide Allen, revealed that top professional golfers, including Okoko Godwin, who won the first edition; Ekpe Francis; Sunday Olopade; Peter Akakasiaka; and Kabir Mohammed, are among the professionals expected to participate in the ₦15 million prize tournament.
According to Allen, the tournament, sponsored by ICMA Professional Services as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the host community, will tee-off on Thursday with professional and Category 1 players competing on the course.
He further disclosed that Friday, the second day of the event, will feature a welcome cocktail for the 170 amateur golfers, who will subsequently begin their competition, with the professionals expected to be reduced to 35 that will finally fight for the prize money at stake.
The Captain emphasized that the ICMA Pro-Am Golf Championship does not only promote sports, but also contributes to the economic growth of the state, as the four-day event is expected to boost sales and stimulate business activities around the Ilorin metropolis.
The representative of the sponsors, ICMA Professional Services, Mallam Farouk Ismail, said that they will sustain the sponsorship of the annual event, which began about 14 years ago, away from home, in Lagos, to celebrate Alhaji AWA Ibrahim’s birthday every year.
Mallam Fariuk, who is also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Ilorin Golf Club @50 tournament, said that preparations are in top gear to ensure a smooth and memorable outing, adding that the event aims not only to showcase golfing excellence but also to strengthen Ilorin’s reputation as a top destination for sports tourism.
The ICMA Pro-Am Open Championship is one of the tournaments on the World Golf Ranking.
The ICMA Pro-Am Open Golf Championship continues to underscore Ilorin’s emergence as a vibrant sporting hub, combining tradition, professionalism, and hospitality in one of Nigeria’s most scenic golf environments.
