With six days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), Coordinator of Girls in Golf, Uloma Mbuko Ogbuokiri, is championing a legacy project targeting 300 girls for mentorship as Nigeria prepares to host Africa’s premier women’s team golf championship in Abuja.

The initiative is designed to extend the impact of the continental competition beyond the golf course by creating opportunities for young girls to discover the sport, learn its fundamentals and develop the confidence to pursue their ambitions. Blueprint reports

Through the Girls in Golf Legacy Project, the organisers hope to inspire a new generation of female golfers while promoting discipline, leadership, perseverance and personal development through sport.

The project forms part of the wider significance of AACT 2026, which is expected to bring national teams, officials and other visitors from about 30 African countries to the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, from November 2 to 7.

Under the slogan, “Uniting Africa Through the Greens,” the championship is expected to showcase the continent’s female golfing talent while providing Nigeria with an opportunity to strengthen its profile as a host of international sporting events.

For Ogbuokiri and the Girls in Golf initiative, however, the competition’s legacy will also be measured by the young girls who are encouraged to take up the sport and the opportunities created for them to develop beyond the tournament.

Ogbuokiri champions mentorship for young girls

The target of mentoring 300 girls highlights the importance of grassroots development to the long-term growth of women’s golf in Nigeria and across Africa.

Golf can offer young people opportunities to develop technical ability alongside values such as patience, concentration, integrity, respect and self-discipline. Through structured exposure and mentorship, the initiative seeks to help girls become familiar with the game and understand the pathways available to those interested in pursuing it competitively.

The project also seeks to broaden the perception of golf as a sport accessible to young girls, rather than one limited to established players and those already familiar with golf clubs.

By linking the initiative to a major continental championship, organisers have an opportunity to connect aspiring young golfers with a wider sporting environment and demonstrate what sustained participation and training can make possible.

Although the mentoring target represents an important ambition, the lasting impact will depend on the opportunities available to the girls after the championship, including continued access to training, practice facilities and guidance.

The initiative therefore places youth development alongside elite competition as part of the broader conversation about the future of women’s golf.

Nigeria set for third AACT hosting

The 2026 edition will mark the third time Nigeria has hosted the All Africa Challenge Trophy, following previous championships in Lagos in 1996 and Abuja in 2010.

Nigeria hosted the 1996 edition at Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, before the tournament returned to the country in 2010 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja.

The country secured the hosting rights for the 2026 championship after presenting its bid during the 2024 edition in Morocco. The Nigerian delegation was then led by the President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, Evelyn Oyome, who has since become the association’s immediate past president.

The return of the championship provides another opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s golfing facilities, hospitality and organisational capacity while strengthening relationships among golf associations across the continent.

The All Africa Challenge Trophy is a biennial championship for women amateur golfers, bringing together national teams to compete for continental honours. The competition also provides players with an opportunity to measure their progress against golfers from other African countries.

With about 30 countries expected to participate, Abuja will serve as a meeting point for athletes and officials from across the continent, placing women’s golf at the centre of an international sporting gathering.

IBB Golf Club prepares to welcome African teams

The IBB International Golf and Country Club is central to preparations for the championship, with the venue undergoing rehabilitation and facility improvements ahead of the tournament.

The club’s Board of Trustees chairperson, Monica Dongban-Mensem, has expressed confidence that the venue would be ready to host the competition as scheduled. She said the course was in good shape and that arrangements were being made to accommodate the participating teams.

The club had been closed to regular golfing activities for more than a year to allow extensive rehabilitation, making its readiness an important aspect of the preparations.

Peter Deshi, chairman of the club’s interim management committee, has also said the venue is ready to welcome African golfers following renovation and facility upgrades.

On the technical side, tournament technical director Julius Fadairo has assured participating teams of preparations for the course and caddie services. Following an inspection, he expressed satisfaction with the work carried out and said arrangements were being made to ensure that caddies could provide the necessary assistance to players.

These preparations are intended to give golfers a suitable playing environment and help ensure that the competition proceeds smoothly.

Visa, reception and medical arrangements underway

Beyond the golf course, organisers have been coordinating travel, protocol and welfare arrangements for visiting delegations.

The chairperson of the Visa, Airport Reception and Protocol Committee, Zulaiha Babagirei-Ahmad, has said visa processing for expected visitors was progressing smoothly.

Her committee has been working with relevant agencies and stakeholders to coordinate visa facilitation, airport reception and protocol services for golfers, team officials and other delegates expected from about 30 African countries.

The Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria has also sought medical support from the National Hospital Abuja to strengthen emergency arrangements during the championship and related events.

Association president and chairperson of the AACT 2026 Local Organising Committee, Lami Ahmed, said the scale of the events required comprehensive medical preparedness for players, officials, guests and spectators.

The association requested an equipped ambulance, qualified medical personnel, emergency supplies and established evacuation and referral arrangements.

The National Hospital’s management welcomed the request and recognised the importance of emergency medical support at major sporting events involving international participants.

The arrangements form part of the wider preparations to ensure that the championship provides a safe and organised experience for visiting teams and other attendees.

Nigeria Ladies Open to follow championship

The AACT programme will also connect with other activities designed to broaden participation in golf during the tournament period.

According to the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, the programme includes arrivals, accreditation and official practice on November 2, followed by the opening ceremony and parade of nations on November 3.

The main championship rounds are scheduled for November 4 to 6, with the closing banquet and prize presentation listed for November 6. Departures for AACT teams and arrivals for the Nigeria Ladies Open are scheduled for November 7.

The Nigeria Ladies Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship is scheduled to run from November 8 to 10, following arrivals on November 7. A Supporters Game is also planned for November 3.

The additional activities are expected to extend the golfing programme beyond the national team competition, bringing together players, supporters and other members of the golfing community.

The back-to-back events also offer opportunities to promote women’s golf locally and provide further competitive exposure for players.

A legacy beyond the trophy

As Nigeria enters the final stretch of preparations, attention will naturally turn to the teams competing for continental honours. But the Girls in Golf Legacy Project highlights another measure of success: whether the championship can inspire more girls to discover the sport and pursue opportunities within it.

The ambition to mentor 300 girls places young people at the heart of the tournament’s wider development goals. If sustained beyond the event, such efforts could help widen participation and strengthen the pipeline of future female golfers.

For Nigeria, hosting the AACT for the third time is an opportunity to welcome Africa to Abuja, demonstrate its capacity to stage international competition and contribute to the growth of women’s golf.

Under the theme “Uniting Africa Through the Greens,” the championship is expected to bring together sporting competition, continental friendship and youth development.

As the countdown continues, the challenge is to ensure that the benefits extend beyond the final putt, creating opportunities for the next generation of girls who may one day represent their countries on Africa’s golfing stage.