A professional golfer and member of Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, Kelvin Alonzo, has commended the management of the club for their deliberate grooming of local expertise to deliver excellence at the world-class facility based in Lagos.
Alonzo, at the weekend, noted that after the contract of the global management firm, IMG (International Management Group) concluded, a local team was already in place, saying that to everyone’s surprise, Mixta Africa had groomed a team that has since exceeded all expectations.
“I have played golf all over the world, and to see what the local team—led by Femi Olagbenro, who took over from the international team—has done with this facility, we should be proud of them,” said Alonzo.
Speaking against the backdrop of the scarcity of local expertise to manage international-standard golf courses, he said that the country would soon meet the capacity needed for the growth of the sport, by Lakowe Lakes’ strides.
At the weekend in Lagos, a golf kitty was staged to celebrate Olagbenro’s many feats around the game, including his pioneering effort in managing an international facility. It was also his 50th birthday celebration.
“Building a fantastic facility like this can be undone by the challenges of maintaining it. What Femi Olagbenro and his team have done here deserves commendation. It all goes back to the management of Mixta Africa, led by Deji Alli, for believing in their potential. They have sustained and improved upon the culture of excellence handed down to them,” he added.
Olagbenro, a pioneer professional when the course was commissioned 13 years ago, has now assumed the role of Golf Manager. His expanded responsibilities—covering course maintenance, clubhouse management, and the club’s general operations—have positioned Lakowe Lakes as arguably the best in the country.
Olagbenro, who was recently celebrated for his ingenuity and brilliant management skills, said, “I am very honoured to be celebrated like this. I love my job, and I believe many experiences have prepared me for this role. But I owe these accolades to the belief Mixta had in me and to the supportive team I work with.”
