A leading indigenous oil and gas company in Nigeria, Seplat Energy PLC, singlehandedly sponsored the fifth edition of the Orodje of Okpe Golf Tournament. Over 100 golfers from across the country participated in this important yearly tournament, which took place over the weekend in the golf area of the Sapele Athletic Club. It showcased not only the sport but also the dynamic culture of the Okpe Kingdom.
Promoting arts and entertainment in Nigeria, in attendance was His Royal Majesty, the Orodje of Okpe, Major General Felix Mujakperuo Agho (rtd.), who spoke highly of Seplat Energy’s continued support for the community while giving his closing remarks. “I want to appreciate the Sapele Athletics Club and I also want to thank the sponsor, Seplat Energy for a good job. The tournament is attracting a lot of people to Sapele. We are seeing some players from Port Harcourt, Asaba, Warri, and more states. It is a competition that is growing from year to year,” he said.
Seplat Energy’s General Manager (Engineering), Walter Egemba, stated during the competition that the company’s sponsorship highlights its dedication to community development and encouraging healthy lifestyles via sports. “This tournament is an important one for Seplat. The Okpe community hosts some of our infrastructure for oil and gas development, and we pride ourselves on having special relationships with the communities where we operate. We have sponsored this tournament since inception and we are committed to elevating it to an international standard. Sports enable the well-being of people and we believe that with continued support for sports in this kingdom, we will have a healthier community.” he added.
Continuing, the competition, which included players of all skill levels and had multiple divisions, had an effect on the Okpe community’s economy as well because it brought in a large number of new customers for neighbourhood shops and vendors. The competitions featured friendly but intense competition between male and female golfers, with trophies given to the victors, which increased the thrill of the occasion.
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Alexander Verhees Fritz, Captain of the Sapele Athletics Club with gratitude, said: “This event is one of the biggest at our golf club. We are very proud to have Seplat Energy as the major sponsor. They have supported the tournament from the start, and we are pleased to see their continued support. The rationale behind this tournament is to encourage young people to play golf. The beauty of golf is that there’s no age limit. Our youngest players are 10 and 12 years old, and our veteran pro is 82, still playing 18 holes regularly.”
Adding, the Sapele Athletic Club Golf Section is recognised as the oldest golf club in Nigeria, having been established in 1897, while the Orodje of Okpe Golf Tournament is said to be the largest yearly golf event in the South-South region of Nigeria. As a result, the competition keeps acting as a stage for honouring Okpe Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage.