Obioma Liyel-Imoke, wife of the Cross River State Governor, was recently bestowed with the Golf Hall of Fame award.
She was nominated for the awards by Kenny Thompson, President and Founder of Kids Golf International, as a result of her outstanding contributions to the sport, through her initiative the Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament.
The Golf Hall of Fame Awards was launched by Kenny Thompson at a vibrant yet stately event at the Abuja Golf Course. Kids Golf International is about innovation and development, says Kenny Thompson. “The core aim is to effectively bring the sport closer to communities and make the game more accessible to the general public.”
Receiving the award on the wife of the Governor’s behalf was renowned publisher, Chinelo Iwenofu, CEO, Africagenda Publications, who according to Imoke in a press release said, “It gives me great joy to be here, receiving such a prestigious award.”
According to Mrs Liyel-Imoke, healthcare was a growing concern when her husband, Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke resumed office in 2007.
“Maternal and infant mortality rates were alarmingly high. The first step he took to combat this was to ensure that pregnant women and children aged five years and below were given free health care treatment, through his initiative, Project Hope. I was moved by this gesture and at the same time my attention was drawn to a certain malaise that seemed to cripple the amazing potential of Cross River State – abandoned babies left to die on the streets.”
She said that this ushered the birth of her initiative, Mothers against Child Abandonment (MACA) in 2007.
The Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament was established the following year, to serve as a fundraiser for these abandoned babies, and this also included the participation of children.
“Subsequently we introduced training programmes specifically created for them. The aim of these programmes was to develop their physical and mental abilities. Golf was an integral component. If children in Cross River State take golf seriously then the next Tiger Woods could emerge from Cross River State.”
Receiving the award she says was a pleasant surprise, especially as she was informed by the organisers, of her Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament initiative being on the world map.
“The teeming demands of under privileged children keep one buried in my part of the world, where I am simply a help mate to my husband. To hear from my little sphere, that the whole world knows about this project is very encouraging to say the least.
“Government is about serving those who need Government the most is a very popular phrase used by my husband and me. Who are these people? The down trodden, the needy and those cannot afford the basic necessities, which many of us often take for granted.”
The Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament she says, is one of the ways that their ideals for the state are met. “Where golf is largely looked at as a sport for the affluent, through the children, that mindset is broken as it pools in children from different strata of society. It’s been quite challenging but awards like this make the sometimes very arduous journey worthwhile.
“I also recall with emotion that it was right here at this venue that I spoke about my programmes in 2009. The encouragement I received back then – good words, donations in cash and kind has gone a very long way. That I am here again receiving such an award, most definitely speaks volumes.
“This will fondly and forever be etched in my memories.”
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