Ihonvbere presents hefty Ladies Open

The Ladies Captain of the IBB Golf Club in Abuja, Chief [Mrs] Grace Ihonvbere is set to present what could be the biggest Ladies Open in the history of IBB Golf Club come February next year. When everything goes down, the event must have gulped a stunning N35 million.

Ihonvbere, a woman of complete style even savored more. With eyes closed, serene, she indeed mentioned that next year’s Ladies Open would not be about golf alone. Like she put it, since players from about 12 foreign countries would partake in next year’s event, effort are geared to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage to the outside world.

To this end, Ihonvbere is boldly partnering with the erudite Director General of the National Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, so Nigeria could be adequately celebrated through the game of golf. Already, a whole day is created as the Cultural Day during the week of the Open. On this day, cultural items of the six geo-political zone of the nation, including delicacies from those regions shall be showcased. Cultural items will equally be displayed and marketed.

“I am just marveled about the whole idea of this cultural thing fusing into golf”, Ihonvbere stated. “We shall have a big platform at the Open. I just told myself that we can as well use that platform to celebrate Nigeria. And now, Otunba [Runsewe] is a wonderful man. When we keyed him to the idea, he felt pretty delighted and bought into it immediately.

Otunba Runsewe will have this to say: “Honestly, I never expected this. I mean women from the ladies golf section of the IBB Golf Club talking about celebrating our cultural heritage. I was shocked and moved and I will say the Arts and Culture shall assist the Open in a big way. We will appreciate it if other Ladies Open package cultural activities into their events. Gradually we shall be uplifting our nation”.

Now this. A hefty N35 million for a Ladies Open… where will this come from? The suave Ihonvbere offered a soft smile like this wasn’t going to pose any problem.

Hear her: “We have our celebrated sponsors, both individuals and corporate bodies. They are always there for us and we are counting on their support. And since this event is going to be extra-large, we are on a massive drive for fund. Or are you suggesting that my husband pays for this”. The Lady Captain is married to Professor Julius Ihonvbere, at a time a senior special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo and the immediate past Secretary to the Edo State Government.