IBB Golf Club Gets New Board
By: Wisdom Acka
A new Board of Trustees for the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Golf Club, has been appointed and inaugurated to steer affairs of the organization.
Accordingly, the new board is led by President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.
Performing the inauguration in his official residence in Gwarinpa I District (Life-Camp), the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, expressed the FCT Administration’s commitment to restoring order and efficiency to the prestigious gulf club; regretting it has recently experienced challenges.
His words: “Let me on behalf of the FCT Administration thank members of the Board of Trustees that was inaugurated this afternoon for responding to the call. There has been crisis in the IBB Gulf Course and as the owner of that Golf Course, we cannot fold our hands and see things deteriorate.”
“You must know that we are still the owners of the Golf Course. It is not privatized. Some of you have held the view that because government gave you Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) it means that the property belongs to you,” the Minister reiterated.
According to him, “No Government sets up agencies or universities and gives them up. Government gives them C-of- O to their land just to protect the property. But that does not mean that because we gave you C-of-O like University of Abuja – that the government does not own the University of Abuja.”
The Minister explained that, for instance, the FCT Administration has given C of O to, say Abuja Investment Company Limited, but it was still owned by the Administration.
Wike thanked the former Chairman and the board for their efforts; noting the challenges they faced, even as he expressed confidence in the new Chairman and the board.
He, thus, assured them of support in resolving all issues.
Tasking the board on improvement of the club’s infrastructure and services, Wike said that the FCTA was ready to assist.
“Let it come back to what it used to be”, he charged.
On her part, Justice Dongban-Mensem expressed the board’s gratitude to the FCT Minister’s prompt action in addressing the recent challenges faced by the club.
Dongban-Mensem emphasized the importance of maintaining the club’s prestigious standing; highlighting its international significance, excellent facilities, and vast potentials.
Acknowledging contributions of past leadership, she specially recognized its past Chairman, Gen. I.B.M. Haruna (rtd) for dedication to the Club; pledging readiness of the new board to uphold the club’s integrity and work diligently.
