African Ambassadors League Launches Fundraising Golf Tournament to Promote Diplomacy, Partnerships

By Iyojo Ameh

The League of African Ambassadors (LAA) has unveiled plans for its maiden Nigerian Fundraising Golf Tournament as part of efforts to strengthen African diplomacy, strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation for sustainable development across the continent.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, President of the League, Ambassador Nwanne Ominyi, said the LAA is a continental professional body comprising serving and retired African ambassadors committed to promoting African unity, peace, economic cooperation and sustainable development.

He explained that the organisation, launched on October 14, 2025, under the auspices of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), was established to complement the efforts of African governments, the African Union and regional institutions by leveraging the expertise and networks of African diplomats.

According to Ominyi, the League’s programmes focus on diplomatic dialogue, knowledge sharing, mentorship, youth empowerment and the promotion of intra-African cooperation involving governments, the private sector, development institutions and civil society organisations.

A key initiative of the organisation, he said, is the LAA Fundraising Golf Programme, which combines sport with diplomacy, networking and fundraising to advance the League’s continental objectives.

The inaugural Nigerian edition of the tournament is scheduled to hold at the Ibom Golf & Country Club, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from August 29 to 30, 2026, with participants expected to arrive for registration and a cocktail reception on August 28.

Ominyi said the Nigerian event would be the first in a series of tournaments planned across 11 African countries, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Morocco and Egypt.

Chairman of the Nigerian Organising Committee, Ambassador Ben Okoyen, described the tournament as more than a sporting competition, saying it would provide a platform for diplomacy, friendship, partnership and development.

He noted that golf offers an informal environment where serving and retired ambassadors, government officials, corporate leaders, development partners and friends of Africa can build relationships and foster cooperation beyond formal diplomatic engagements.

Okoyen disclosed that the Nigerian tournament is being organised under the auspices of former Chief of Army Staff and former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.).

He added that a 25-member organising committee had been constituted, with Ambassador Folakemi Akinleye serving as secretary, Ambassador John Usanga as publicity chairman and Ambassador Ali Magashi as chairman of the Continental Golf Committee.

According to him, participation in the two-day championship will be limited to 150 golfers, with winners competing for prizes, including return flight tickets to London, Barbados and Accra.

The organisers also announced that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, members of the National Assembly, and the governors of Akwa Ibom and Imo states are expected to perform the ceremonial tee-off on August 29, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs will conduct the putting-out ceremony on August 30 to formally close the event.

The League appealed to diplomatic missions, corporate organisations, government institutions, development partners, golf associations and the media to support the initiative, expressing confidence that partnerships forged during the tournament would contribute to Africa’s long-term development.

“Our message is simple: Africa’s future requires African leadership, African solidarity and African solutions, supported by constructive partnerships with the wider world,” Ominyi said.