By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 7, 2025 (NAN) Former First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Sunday, joined other dignitaries and golf enthusiasts to celebrate Dame Julie Donli, the out-going Lady Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dignitaries who showered encomiums on the lady captain, spoke at the 2025 IBB Lady Captain’s Cup tee-off ceremony as well as at the dinner and award night organised in Donli’s honour.
The dinner/award night ceremony was part of a week-long golfing event which began on Wednesday and ended on Sunday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club (IBBIGCC), Abuja.
Ex-first lady Jonathan said it was a pleasure for her to have been at the club to celebrate a special and hardworking lady captain as well as the talents and dedication of the players and members of the club.
“I sincerely congratulate my dear friend and sister, Lady Captain Dame Julie Donli, OON and the entire members of her team for a successful tournament to mark the end of her tenure.
“As you end your successful tenure as the Lady Captain of this glorious team, I sincerely wish you more success in your new endeavour.
“Keep it on. Don’t go and relax. Continue playing, and continue to make us proud; we the women of Nigeria,” she said.
She said golf was a game she admired very much because to her, spending time in a green, natural environment, away from the pressures of daily life is the best medicine to reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
“In other words, apart from the social interaction, playing golf makes one physically active and reduce the blood pressure.
“Furthermore, it is said that, you can tell alot about someone’s character by playing one round of golf with him or her, and we all need this before making friends.
“Again, golfers say that if your previous shot was a disaster, you should forget about it and approach the next shot with a renewed vigor, and this is just what we all need to make success in life,” she said.
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the President, Nigeria Golf Federation noted that the event was a special day to celebrate quality and to celebrate a lady captain who had done so much for the IBB Ladies Golf Section.
“Today, I am standing here on about three caps; first as a lover of golf, a Board of Trustees member of the club and the president of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF).
“I want to thank the golfing community for choosing to honour Donli in a very special way. A lady who ensured that the club had one of the most active and very effective LGS during her tenure.
“We feel very proud today of this great lady captain for what she’s done and what she is doing,” he said.
The NGF President also appreciated the former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan for the vital role she played in ensuring the existence, growth and development of the club.
“Dame Jonathan was indeed instrumental to us securing the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of this great club way back when she was the first lady of the country.
“On behalf of the entire golfing community, I celebrate and thank you for the wonderful support you gave to us.
“Thank you Donli for giving me the opportunity to thank this great woman of our time,” he said.
Amb. Maureen Tamuno, the Group Managing Director, Abuja Investments Company Ltd said Donli is an amazing person with great leadership qualities.
“She’s got some very distinct leadership qualities. She was able to run the club with her “women supporting women” mantra.
“The kitty tournaments every Thursday were amazing and grew from about 30 players to over 200 at the last count.
“I congratulate her for this great feat. I just know that the sky is her stepping stone and urge her to continue being resilient and committed to those things she believes in, and brace up for more opportunities to serve anywhere she finds herself,” she said.
Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu, a golf enthusiast noted that the outgoing lady captain was a woman of excellence, adding that she had set a standard which would be difficult for any other lady captain to maintain.
“We are here to join thousands of IBB golfers to say to our lady captain that she has done well and we wish for her to take up a bigger role here in the club.
“She has set a standard in the ladies section and also in the entire IBB International Golf and Country Club, and shown us that golfing in the club can be a thing of joy.
“Those of us that are retired but not tired, we have seen things that are different. We have seen in her leadership, excellence, and innovations.
“I think that whoever is coming as the new Lady captain will really have a hard time to keep up with the standard she has set,” she said.
On his part, Ibrahim Babayo, the Captain of IBBIGCC was full of praise for his lady captain, adding that under her leadership, activities at the club have been vibrant and impactful.
Babayo expressed his admiration for Donli, highlighting her achievements and the positive impact she had on the club for the past one year, adding that her good deeds and works were so numerous to mention.
Donli expressed her gratitude to all who came out to celebrate her, adding that she was overwhelmed by the large turn out of guests at the dinner and award ceremony.
“I am so excited, relieved, happy and thankful.
God has been good to me, he gave me good health and strength.
“He also gave me good people to work with. He gave me good ladies that cooperated with me during my one year tenure.
“I am really grateful to God and to say, this is not the end of my job. I hope to serve the IBB International Golf and Country Club in a higher capacity,” she said.
She expressed optimism that her predecessor would follow in her footsteps and continue to build on the good foundation she and her team have laid for the Ladies Golf Section (LGS).
“To the incoming lady captain, I am confident she will have no problems because we have set a template for her to follow and we are there to support her. We will be there with her.
“It is the same LGS, and nothing will change. All she needs to do is to keep her eyes fixed on the ball, and not get distracted, but work hard with commitment, passion and dedication, she will do very well,” she said.
The former Director General of NAPTIP also specially thanked the Ex- first lady for honouring her as well as all her sponsors and friends.
“I want to thank all my sponsors, my friends and especially the former first lady Dame Patience Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; my mother, my sister, my friend for supporting me.
“She has always supported me all along, and I am not surprised. I want to thank her specially.
“I also thank the Chairman, Chief Michael Onoha, the BOT member, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Captain, the Vice Captain, Her Excellencies, Dame Pauline Tallen, Maureen Tamuno, and every other person who just came to honour me,” she said.(NAN)
