A property developer, Cecil Osakwe, on Sunday in Abuja said there is now more the need to evolve a sustainable maintenance culture at sports infrastructure across the country.
Osakwe, while speaking during the inauguration of a caddies house he and his wife constructed at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, noted that Nigeria has a maintenance culture problem.
“In Nigeria in general, we have a serious maintenance culture problem. But, from my experience, I have come to realize that quite a number of Nigerians want something good.
“It is just that for some reasons, it is frustrating when people do not do the right thing.
“But we will teach them, and we will continue to correct, and they will see how clean that place is,” he said with particular reference to the caddies house.
“There is a reason, the quality of work, it is not really easy to damage this. It is not going to be that easy, no matter how irresponsible you are.”
Osakwe, while handing over the shed to the club’s Captain, Banjo Obaleye, said he and his wife were motivated to execute the project as part of efforts to honor the caddies.
“Most of the time when golfers take to the field, they are given most of the praise for their achievements. But their faithful caddies are hardly, if at all, ever remembered.
“The caddies are usually the lower level of golfers but they are the ones who make it happen, help us carry our golf bags and cards.
“So, when I was given this project, the fact that it is going for people at this level was my strong motivation,” he said.
Chairman of the club’s Board of Trustees (BOT), IBM Haruna, applauded the Osakwes for showing concern for the caddies who he said are in the majority but often forgotten.
“Glory be to God, the king and the maker who has created us, who takes care of us, sees us to places and those who see to our needs.
“He uses them to provide those needs. We are grateful to them and we thank God that we are making progress.
“It is difficult to think about the well-being of the lower people in the society who are often the majority.
“The caddies are the ones who carry our bags and clubs, and are aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it.
“So, I thank the past captain and Osakwe for thinking towards the comfort of the lower level in our midst and building this for them,” the retired Nigerian Army general said.
The club’s immediate-past captain, Emmanuel Anosike, also thanked the Osakwes for the honor done to the club.
Other BOT members, members of the club and caddies were present at the occasion.
The caddies house, which is captioned under “Captain’s Cup 22 Project”, has given a new look to the green on the 18-hole golf course.
