By Victor Okoye

Abuja, June 1, 2025 (NAN) The 2025 edition of the Mama Eunice Jiya Memorial golf tournament ended in Minna, Niger State on Sunday with Christopher Moses emerging as the overall winner of the event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day tournament held at the Minna Cantonment Golf Club.

AVM CE Aroriode (retd.), the Leader, Golf & Tour Charity Association was on ground, along with other dignitaries and association officials to grace the event.

The annual golf competition, staged every year in memory of Mama Eunice Jiya, the mother of Maj. Gen. Samson Jiya, the Captain of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja saw no fewer than 100 golfers competing for honours in the different categories.

At the end of hostilities however, Moses clinched the tournament’s top prize after he played a total gross of 76, playing off handicap 11 and returned an impressive net score of 65 to emerge as the best net winner in the men’s division 1 category for handicap 0 to 14.

An elated Moses told NAN that winning the trophy at last for the first time, after several attempts was such a good feeling of relief and satisfaction.

“I have learnt alot from the game of golf. I started as a caddie in 2011 and started playing in 2019. I became a junior champion in 2022.

“In 2023, I played on this same tournament, here in Minna, but I faltered as hole 13 proved a very hard nut to crack.

“I had the same experience in 2024 and was beating on countback after returning 71 net, but this year, I was determined to break the jinx.

“Based on my previous experience, I decided to play a hard par on hole 13, even though my first shot was not very good.

“My second shot wasn’t too good either, but my third shot was on the green and I managed to play par on that hole.

“I narrowly missed a birdie on hole 18, but I was able to tap in for a par. I give God the glory for giving me the grace and the confidence which has made me the overall winner of the tournament today.

“Practice they say makes perfect and that’s the story of my journey in the game of golf, and I look forward to becoming a pro in the shortest possible time,” he said.

NAN reports that in the ladies’ category Precious Amos emerged winner of the best net prize after she played off handicap 36 and returned 107 gross and 71 net.

John Otaru returned a total of 76 gross to emerge as best gross winner in the male division 1 category for handicap 0 to 14.

While, Obioma Elijah played a total gross of 91 to finish as best gross winner in the ladies’ category.

In the Regular Veteran category, Lawrence Kadiri played off handicap 20 and returned 89 gross and 69 net to beat his closest challenger Emmanuel Olokun, on countback to clinch the men’s best net prize.

While, Dibo Ojerinde who played off handicap 26, returned a gross score of 110 and 84 net to emerge as the best gross winner in the Super Veteran category.

In the professional category, a total of 17 pros took to the course to slug it out for a total tournament prize money purse of N1 million.

Pro John Azi returned a gross score of 67 to emerge winner, while Pro Elisha Markus returned 70 gross to finish as runner-up in the category.

Pro Moses Idoko played 72 gross to settle for the first runner up prize.

Maj. Gen. Samson Jiya, who spoke on behalf of the Jiya family, thanked all participants, especially the members of the Golf & Tour Charity Association for honouring the memory of late Mama Eunice Jiya, adding that he does not take their kind gesture and leadership for granted.

Jiya expressed gratitude to God, his uncles and aunties for their love and support during his childhood days and their efforts in raising him up to the man he had become.

“I want to most sincerely thank God Almighty for the privilege and honour he has done for us all, particularly for the Jiya family.

“I want to also thank the patriarch of the Jiya family, my dear beloved uncle, Egnr Moses Aliyu Jiya and his wife and Jonathan Yisa Jiya and his wife; after God and my parents, both of them as uncles brought me up.

“Today, your sacrifices, efforts, advices and admonitions has brought me thus far as a Maj. Gen. in the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Jiya promised that he would continue to hold and keep the good name of the Jiya family in a just and upright manner as it was handed over to him by his elders.

He said he was also looking forward to handing over the baton to the younger generation of the Jiya family coming behind in future, adding that it is his wish and prayer that anyone he was going to hand over the baton to would also have the same discipline and training he had.

The TYB Golf Captain also hailed the overall winner of the tournament and urged him to remain focused on his ultimate goal of becoming a professional golfer.

“Moses used to be my caddie at the GEJ Golf Club Abuja.

“You have gone from your little status to the great player you are now. I want to congratulate you are urge you to remain humble and focused, and I hope that in the next few years, we want to celebrate you as a professional golfer in Nigeria,” he said.

NAN also reports that other members of the Jiya family present at the award ceremony were Egnr Moses and Hansatu Jiya (the patriarch of the family and his wife), Dr Jonathan and Esther Jiya (his uncle and the wife ) and his son, Sunday Jiya.

Also in attendance was the special guest of honour, Maj. Gen. Kevin Aligbe, Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC),
and AVM CE Aroriode (retd.), the Leader, Golf & Tour Charity Association.

Others were; Brig. Gen. M.D. Onoyiveta (retd.), the Chief Coordinator, Golf & Tour Charity Association, Wing Cdr Ibrahim Sarki (retd.), Chairman, Minna 2025 Local Organising Committee, Chief Sam Anyamele, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Former Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr Ali Peters, the Vice Captain of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja, and Mrs Lami Ahmed, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), Zonal Vice-President, North, to mention a few.(NAN)