Some of Africa’s top golfers have indicated interest in competing at the seventh edition of the CIO Golf Championship, which carries a record ₦100 million prize purse, as the tournament strengthens Nigeria’s position on the continental golf calendar.The championship will hold at the Python Golf Club, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from November 8th to the 15th, 2026, with entries from 30 African professionals alongside a strong Nigerian contingent. The event offers substantial financial rewards and a pathway to the prestigious Magical Kenya Open, a DP World Tour event.
Chairman of Keves Global Leasing, Ikenna Okafor, described the championship as Nigeria’s richest professional golf event, underscoring its growing significance in developing African talent. “The CIO Championship is the most prized professional golf event in Nigeria, with a purse of ₦100 million. Our commitment is to reward excellence, attract Africa’s finest players and create opportunities for Nigerian professionals beyond our shores,” he said. The tournament’s biggest attraction extends beyond prize money, with the winner gaining a potential route to the Magical Kenya Open, offering global exposure for local talents. “This pathway is particularly important for Nigerian professionals, who possess the talent but lack regular access to international competition. We are creating a bridge between local excellence and global opportunities,” Okafor added.
The CIO Golf Classic began as a birthday competition for Okafor and has grown into a yearly tournament bringing amateur and professional players from across Africa, with the prize money rising from ₦20 million to ₦75 million and now ₦100 million. The tournament’s affiliation with Kenya’s Safari Tour has given it leverage to draw some of the continent’s best players to Port Harcourt, with organisers aiming to grow the event into a major tourism booster for Nigeria.
The week-long championship opens on November 8th with the Kids Championship, highlighting the organisers’ grassroots development commitment, before elite amateur and professional golfers take centre stage from November 11th to the 15th. Okafor’s long-term dream is to see the CIO Golf Classic pay out a $1 million prize purse within the next 10 years, positioning it as the first choice for top golfers under the Safari Tour.
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
Leave a comment