From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar, and Ekaette Okon-Joseph, Uyo
The 2026 National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Golf Tournament in Uyo is attracting visitors and generating business opportunities across Akwa Ibom State’s hospitality, aviation and service sectors, providing fresh evidence of the economic potential of Governor Umo Eno’s tourism development drive.
The tournament, tagged NAPE 2.0 Homecoming, is taking place at the Ibom Golf and Country Club, following a similar event hosted in the state last year.
About 150 golfers, alongside geologists, petroleum exploration professionals and representatives of major industry organisations and companies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigeria LNG and Chevron, are participating in the tournament.
Captain of the Ibom Golf and Country Club, Mr. Isua Archibong, said NAPE’s return for a second consecutive tournament demonstrated the growing appeal of Akwa Ibom as a destination for sports tourism and business events.
He said the tournament had also demonstrated the importance of maintaining the state’s tourism assets, particularly the golf course, which remains operational despite the ongoing renovation of the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.
Archibong said the continued operation of the facility had enabled the state to host major sporting events and attract visitors while generating economic activities for businesses within and outside Uyo.
He disclosed that the influx of participants had increased demand for hotel accommodation, with several hotels in Uyo reportedly fully occupied. Some golfers were also accommodated at Four Points by Sheraton in Ikot Ekpene.
The economic benefits, he said, extended beyond hospitality to event planners, caterers, branding companies and other vendors engaged in providing services for the tournament.
Archibong added that many participants travelled to the state through Ibom Air, the state-owned airline, highlighting the contribution of air transportation to the movement of visitors and the growth of the tourism economy.
He said the tournament had brought together professionals from the oil and gas industry, including geologists and petroleum explorers, providing opportunities for networking and increasing Akwa Ibom’s visibility among industry stakeholders.
A visitor from Lagos State, Mrs. Grace Ohia, described Akwa Ibom as a beautiful destination, saying her experience had exceeded her expectations.
Ohia said she was particularly impressed by the quality of the roads, stable electricity supply and maintenance of the golf course, as well as the orderly coordination of the players.
She said the experience had given her a positive impression of the state and its capacity to host sporting events.
Archibong attributed the state’s growing ability to attract such events to Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to tourism development and infrastructure maintenance under the ARISE Agenda.
He commended the governor for sustaining the Ibom Golf Course, describing it as a valuable tourism asset whose continued operation had enabled the state to host visitors and sporting competitions despite the renovation of the hotel.
The NAPE 2.0 Homecoming highlights the economic possibilities of sports tourism in Akwa Ibom, particularly its capacity to stimulate hospitality, transportation and small businesses while attracting professionals and visitors from across the country.
With about 150 golfers participating, the tournament offers another opportunity to showcase the state’s tourism infrastructure and strengthen its position as a destination for sporting events and business-related gatherings.