The 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic is set to attract some of the leading professional golfers from across Africa after Oando Nigeria Plc came on board as the main sponsor of the tournament, with an enhanced prize purse expected to raise the profile of the competition.
The championship will take place at the Lakowe Lakes Golf & Country Estate in Lagos and will be staged in two phases, giving Nigerian professionals an opportunity to compete on home soil before the tournament opens its doors to a wider African field.
The first phase, the Nigeria Closed, is scheduled to take place from September 28 to 30 and will feature Nigerian professional golfers competing for a prize purse of ₦30 million.
Attention will then turn to the international phase from October 2 to 4, when professionals from different African countries are expected to converge on Lagos to compete for $50,000 in prize money, alongside valuable World Ranking points.
The introduction of the international phase represents an important development for the tournament, particularly because of its connection with the Sunshine Development Tour’s East Africa Swing.
The event is expected to attract professionals from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya and other African golfing nations, creating an opportunity for players to compete against a broader range of opponents without having to travel outside the continent.
For Nigerian professionals, the tournament could provide a particularly important platform to showcase their abilities in front of a home audience while also pursuing ranking points and international recognition.
Among the Nigerian players expected to headline the competition are Olapade Sunday, Godwin Okoko, Andrew Odoh, Solomon Ideria, Francis Epe and Tajudeen Ajayi.
Several of these players have gained international experience through their participation on the Sunshine Development Tour, including the East Africa Swing, where Nigerian professionals have been competing against players from different countries.
Olapade has described the opportunity to play an international-ranking event at home as an important development for Nigerian golf.
The Nigerian professional noted that competing in an event of this nature goes beyond simply playing in front of a home crowd. The presence of international professionals and World Ranking points gives local players an opportunity to test themselves at a higher level while strengthening Nigeria’s position within the wider golfing community.
The increased financial commitment from Oando is also expected to make the tournament more attractive to professionals.
Lakowe Lakes Manager Femi Olagbenro said the company’s involvement supports the championship’s objective of creating stronger competitive opportunities for Nigerian professionals.
According to Olagbenro, the tournament is designed to provide local players with opportunities to compete against some of Africa’s best professionals, gain experience and pursue greater recognition for their performances.
The tournament’s structure means the Nigeria Closed will provide a dedicated platform for domestic professionals before the international field arrives for the second phase.
The $50,000 international purse, together with World Ranking points, could make the October competition particularly significant for players seeking to improve their standing and build momentum on the international circuit.
The tournament also forms part of a broader effort to create more competitive opportunities for Nigerian professionals. Earlier this year, Lakowe Lakes was involved in Sunshine Development Tour qualifying events that helped Nigerian players gain access to international competition.
That pathway has already seen Nigerian professionals travel to East Africa to gain valuable tournament experience. The Lakowe Lakes Classic now gives some of those players the opportunity to bring that experience back home and compete before Nigerian spectators.
Beyond the competition itself, the event is expected to strengthen Lagos’ position as a destination for major golf tournaments while providing sponsors and partners with an opportunity to support the development of professional sport in Nigeria.
Other partners involved in the tournament include GAC Motors, ARM Investment Managers and ProvidusUnity Bank, adding further corporate support to the championship.
With the Nigeria Closed scheduled for September 28 to 30 and the international competition following from October 2 to 4, attention will increasingly turn to the quality of the field and the battle for the substantial prize purse.
For Nigeria’s leading professionals, the Lakowe Lakes Classic represents an opportunity to compete at home, challenge some of Africa’s established players and pursue World Ranking points.
For the visiting professionals, the Lagos tournament will provide another opportunity to compete on the Sunshine Development Tour circuit while experiencing one of Nigeria’s leading golf facilities.
With increased prize money, international participation and ranking points all part of the package, the 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic promises to be a significant event on the African professional golf calendar and another important step in expanding competitive opportunities for Nigerian golfers..
