NiDCOM, US, Britain, French Embassies Triumph At The Diplomatic Games Week

Oru Leonard 

The Diplomatic Games Week — The weeklong event which featured golf, tennis, chess and soccer — started as Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament in 2019, in Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos was upped and made more inclusive, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.it held on from 4th to 10th of November, 2024, in the diplomatic beehive city of Abuja.

As usual, especially with the golf activity of The Diplomatic Games Week, it was a colorful gathering of diplomats of diverse nationalities.

TENNIS
The week started with tennis, as diplomats and members of the tennis section of IBB International Golf & Country Club took to the court to slug it out for prizes and trophies. At the end of the 5-day tennis matches, the duo of AVM Abiola Amodu ans Adamu Salisu won the mixed doubles title, while Ikani Agabi and Sani Tijani emerged runners up.

AVM Saliu Atawodi, Obinna Ofodum, Biodun Jegede and Zacchy Akinjogbin were the semifinalists.

CHESS
The chess activity of the week held at Fraser Suites the embassy of Argentina was represented by Pedro Alurralde, Davyd Hohiia, represented The Embassy of Ukraine, Chidera Chukwu represented British High Commission. The host of the chess tournament, Fraser Suites also fielded a player of Nigerian extract.

In the Semi Finals, Nigeria (Fraser Suites) encountered British High Commission, Argentine Embassy slugged it out with Ukrainian Embassy.

Chidera Chukwu of British High Commission edged out Emmanuel Ogar of Nigeria (Fraser Suites), to make it to the finals, where he checkmated Danielle of Embassy of Ukraine.

The third place match was between Emmanuel Ogar and Pedro Alurralde of Argentina, and Pedro came third.

SOCCER
In a knockout format, 5-man teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission and Embassy of Japan slogged it out, playing against one another. In a with 10 and 7 unreplied goals respectively, MFA and NIDCOM recorded victory over The Embaasy of Japan. Having won its matches against MFA and Embassy of Japan, NIDCOM emerged the winner of the soccer tournament of The Diplomatic Games Week, with 6 points.

GOLF
The Diplomatic Games Week rounded up with 6th edition of Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament. It was, as usual, a convergence of diplomats from embassies and international organizations, and non-diplomats alike.

The 2024 edition witnessed more diplomats winning the usual coveted prizes. With 54 Stableford points, Florent Mangin from Embassy of France won the men’s category.

British High Commission’s Martine Sobey carded 47 Stableford points, which made her top the ladies’ category. Both Florent and Martine went home with a flight ticket and a weekend stay at a golf resorts courtesy of Uganda Airlines and Lake Victoria Golf Resorts & Spa.

‘Best Diplomat Score’, which is a special prize reserved for diplomats, to ensure that at least one diplomat goes home with a prize, was recorded by Brian Neubert of the United States embassy.

Speaking on why the ministry decided to support The Diplomatic Games Week, Amb. Ben Okoyen, the Chief of Protocol at Ministry of Foreign Affairs — who performed ceremonial tee off on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar — said that the event is one that the diplomatic community in Nigeria has been waiting for, as it provides prime opportunity for interaction and cooperation that can advance sports diplomacy between Nigeria and nations whose diplomatic missions she plays host to, and consequently contribute to sports development in Nigeria.

Sòókò Deji Ajomale-McWord, CEO of Diplomacy Publishing & Events — organizers of The Diplomatic Games Week and TTRC – The Trade Relations Cup™️ — expressed joy over the zest with which the diplomatic community welcome the idea of a recreational convergence of the diplomatic community. “4 days into The Diplomatic Games Week, my phone was still ringing incessantly, from calls from different embassies. The acceptance is more than encouraging and it can only grow bigger from here”, he said.
L-R(front): Martine Sobey from British High Commission, Ms. Sookjae Choi wife of the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Sòókò Deji Ajomale-McWord – organizer of The Diplomatic Games Week, H.E. Amb. Mersole Mellejor – Ambassador of Philippines to Nigeria, Michael D. Salazar from Philippines Embassy (back) Amb. Ben Okoyen – Chief of Protocol at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Florent Mangin from Embassy of France and Brian Neubert from US Embassy at the golf activity of The Diplomatic Games Week