About 150 golfers, including professionals in the petroleum exploration industry and representatives of major oil and gas companies, have converged on Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for the 2026 National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Golf Tournament.
The tournament, tagged NAPE 2.0 Homecoming, is bringing together members of the professional association and other industry stakeholders at the Ibom Golf and Country Club for sporting competition, networking and social engagement.
Participants include representatives of major industry organisations and companies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigeria LNG and Chevron, alongside geologists and petroleum exploration experts.
The return of the tournament to Akwa Ibom for the second consecutive year is also drawing attention to the state’s capacity to host professional gatherings and sporting events, with hospitality and other businesses recording increased patronage.
Captain of the Ibom Golf and Country Club, Mr Isua Archibong, said the event had attracted visitors from different parts of the country and created economic opportunities for businesses in Uyo and neighbouring communities.
He disclosed that the influx of participants had increased demand for hotel accommodation, with several hotels in Uyo reportedly fully occupied. Some of the golfers were also accommodated at Four Points by Sheraton in Ikot Ekpene.
Archibong said the benefits of the tournament extended to caterers, event planners, branding companies and other service providers engaged in the organisation of the competition.
He added that many participants had travelled to Akwa Ibom through Ibom Air, demonstrating the role of air connectivity in facilitating business and leisure travel to the state.
According to him, the continued availability of the Ibom Golf Course has been particularly important in sustaining the state’s hosting capacity, especially as renovation work continues at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.
He said the maintenance of the golf facility had enabled it to remain operational and accommodate tournaments and other sporting activities despite the ongoing renovation.
Archibong described NAPE’s return as an indication of the attraction the facility holds for golfers and professional groups, adding that the event had further exposed Akwa Ibom to influential stakeholders in the petroleum industry.
A participant from Lagos State, Mrs Grace Ohia, said her experience in Akwa Ibom had exceeded her expectations.
Ohia expressed satisfaction with the state’s road infrastructure, electricity supply and the condition of the golf course, as well as the organisation of the tournament.
She said the experience had given her a positive impression of Akwa Ibom and its ability to host visitors and sporting competitions.
Archibong attributed the state’s growing attraction for such gatherings to the tourism development and infrastructure maintenance efforts of Governor Umo Eno under the ARISE Agenda.
He commended the governor for sustaining the golf course as a tourism and sporting asset, noting that its continued operation had made it possible for the state to host the tournament while renovation work was ongoing at the adjoining resort.
The NAPE 2.0 Homecoming thus places Akwa Ibom at the intersection of professional networking and sports tourism, with the participation of petroleum industry stakeholders offering an opportunity to expand the state’s visibility beyond conventional leisure tourism.
