Former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has revealed that only death can separate him from golf, saying he would continue to play and invest in the game and sporting activities as long as he is alive.
Oyinlola made the declaration at the weekend during the commemorative golf tournament held in his honour to mark his 75th birthday. The event which was powered by Engineer Olanrewaju Adeleke at his expansive Ile-Ogbo Golf Course and Resorts, and LanreLeke Sports Academy in Ile-Ogbo, Osun State .
Oyinlola used the opportunity to call for peace, unity and oneness among Nigerians in the country, saying all hands must be on deck for the progress of Osun in particular and Nigeria in general.
Engr Adeleke who is also the MD/CEO, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns and founder, unveiled plans to turn the golf course to a world-class tourist destination.
Speaking during the special golf tournament organized in his honour on the occasion of his 75th birthday, Oyinlola reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the cause of the game of golf in the country.
R-L: Professor Kola Adebayo; former Osun Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi, Asiwaju Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus, Dr. Gbenga Oyebode, Mr. Samuel Olowo and Justice Kola Adegoke, at the special birthday golf tournament to commemorate the 75th birthday of the ex-Governor, at Ileogbo Golf and Resorts and LanreLeke Sports Academy, Ileogbo, Osun State.
He expressed profound gratitude to the founder of LanreLeke Sports Academy and Ileogbo Golf Course for bringing and siting the edifice in the state describing it as a motivation.
“I am happy that I belong to the Golf family and only death can come between me and the game. That is why I must sincerely appreciate the founder of LanreLeke Sports Academy and Ileogbo Golf Course for bringing this facility here to our dear state and through this, he has further motivated many who are golfers and sports enthusiasts. I want to also appreciate him for celebrating my birthday with a golf tournament and he has promised to continue with this. No doubt, he is a kind man. I thank him for siting this here. I am optimistic that this edifice will eventually produce world stars in the world of golf. ”
Earlier, Engr. Adeleke described ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola as a shining light and symbol of the game if golf in the country, lauding his immense contributions to the growth and development of sports generally in Osun state and beyond.
Adeleke, who disclosed plans to advance the infrastructural development of LanreLeke Sports Academy and Ileogbo Golf Course, urged members of the public particularly well-meaning Nigerians and members of the public and the organized private sector to invest more intentionally in sports development.
“Without sounding immodest, we have one of the best golf courses in Nigeria and you can verify from the professionals. We intend to improve on that by making it a tourist destination, putting necessary facilities in place. If you were here last year and you are here now, you would have noticed a remarkable difference in terms of development. There is a 10- year development plan which we are going to keep to religiously. As part of the 10- year development plan, we have only done four, and we still have six years to improve on the facilities”, Adeleke stated.
In their separate goodwill messages, former Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr. Olugboyega Benedict Alabi, Asiwaju Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Hon. Adejare Bello, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hameed Adekunle Makama, veteran Nollywood actor, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande) hailed Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola for being a beacon of hope and paragon of inspiration to both the young and the old.
The event was attended by golfers from different parts of the country.
