The Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria has urged directors to embrace sports such as golf kitty to engender work-life balance.
President, IoD, Dr Ije Jidenma, represented by Alhaji Tijjani Borodo, First Vice President, said this at the institute’s 40th anniversary golf kitty tournament in Lagos.
Jidenma said the golf kitty, as a noble idea, was conceived as a platform for socialisation and networking for members and other well-meaning and eminent members of society.
According to her, the institute’s decision to organise the golf kitty is against the backdrop that sports is a veritable tool for social harmony and cohesion.
She lauded the leadership of Ikoyi Golf Club for partnering with the institute to host the Golf Kitty on their course and expressed readiness for future collaborations that would be mutually beneficial to both institutions.
“The IoD was founded 40 years ago with a simple but powerful vision: to promote excellence, professionalism, corporate governance, and leadership.
“Today, we celebrate the success of that vision, which has become a driving force in the business community and beyond.
“The institute has played a vital role in shaping the business landscape of this country, setting the standard for ethical business practices and ensuring that companies operate in a responsible and sustainable manner.
“Through its various initiatives, the institute has advocated the adoption of best practices in corporate governance, which has helped to attract foreign direct investments and has engendered economic growth.
“We have been instrumental to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy and have also become a symbol of excellence and a beacon of hope for businesses in Nigeria,” she said.
Director General, IoD, Dr Dele Alimi, stated that the golf kitty was organised to bring to fore the need for directors to embrace sports, live healthy and engage in other activities beyond the boardroom.
According to him the institute by the event, had brought its consciousness to golfers who are very eminent Nigerians and ensured that members of the institute network and understand the value that the sport added to healthy living.
“In continuation of our keep fit program for directors, on June 10, we are also going to be having a walk for life which would hold simultaneously in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos.
“We are going to have members of the institute do at least a 10km walk to shed weight and embrace healthy living.
“There would also be health talk where members would be advised to live a healthier life among other activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary,” he said.
Dr Godfrey Odijie, winner at the IoD golf tournament, revealed that he played and studied golf twice a week, and that his practice had paid off.
Odijie, who described the game as ‘all of life’, stated that one needed integrity, honesty and sportsmanship to play golf.
“The game makes you try to be a better version of yourself and it does not matter what anyone else on the course is trying to be, and it can be likened to life as you try to be a better version of yourself when you play the game,” he said.
NAN/Oyenike Oyeniyi