THE Captain of Royal Golf Course Dutse, Jigawa State, Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida Umar, Ma’ajin Dutse, has been elected into the Board of the Nigerian Golf Federation (NGF) as the representative of the Northwest Zone.
According to a statement signed by his media consultant, Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim, FNGE (Kwakwatawa) made available to News Point Nigeria Sports late on Saturday, the election followed the exercise for Northwest Zonal Representatives into the Boards of National Sports Federations, held on Saturday, 27th September, 2025, at the Zonal Headquarters of the National Sports Commission, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Alhaji Babangida Umar, a seasoned golfer and sports administrator, is also a former two-term Captain of the historic Kano Golf Club ,1908 (the Premier Golf Course in Nigeria) and a member of the IBB International Golf and Country Club. He will represent the seven Northwest states on the NGF Board, headed by Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as President.
In his post-election speech, Babangida Umar, who is also the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in Jigawa State expressed gratitude to delegates for their confidence in him.
He called for the cooperation of golfers across the Northwest and the general public in his mission to take the game to the next level.
He stressed his “love, passion, and enthusiasm for golf” and pledged unwavering commitment to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
Earlier, during his pre-election manifesto, Umar outlined his agenda, which includes: promoting the physical and mental faculties of players in line with golf’s global objectives, strengthening unity among the diverse peoples of the Northwest through the sport and exploring partnerships with golf clubs to boost local economies and tourism in host communities and the nation at large.
Babangida Umar also revealed plans to embark on a “House-to-Golf Course Enlightenment Advocacy”, designed to create public awareness and introduce more people to the sport across the zone.
He further pledged to organize inter-zonal, professional, and amateur golf tournaments, alongside a “Catch Them Young Programme” to identify and nurture budding talents through coaching clinics and mentorship.
His agenda also includes encouraging, supporting, and partnering with golf clubs to develop infrastructure while instilling a strong culture of facility maintenance among club management and players.
With his election, stakeholders say Babangida Umar brings experience, vision, and passion that could help reposition golf in Nigeria’s Northwest and beyond.
