Golf Is Not Only For The Rich – New Arts&Culture boss Segun Runsewe

Published

7 years ago

April 9, 2017

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, former Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has found a new love in golf.

Still bubbling with life, the flamboyant tourism technocrat is hardly seen in social circles these days. He is either in church services or out there, playing golf. He is also the promoter of the biggest indoor /golf academy in Africa today.

“Immediately that takes off, golfing history in Nigeria will take a new position”. Speaking with Effect, the Ogun-State-born power dresser speaks about life after leaving NTDC and lots.

We hardly hear about Otunba these days, what are you up to now?

Otunba Runsewe is on spiritual holiday now.

How do you mean?
I’m communicating with my God because he owns everybody’s destiny. In life, you need to go on break and start again. That’s what makes the journey sweeter. You can’t move on the same speed forever, you need to take a break and come back. Then, people appreciate you better. Let me use the example of the popular Olajumoke, the bread seller. She never knew that fortune would come to her doorstep until Almighty God made her to have contact with her destiny-helpers and that was the story. So, in life you must learn to go on spiritual holiday so that you can give room to your destiny helpers to network and connect with you.

What misconception do people have about Otunba Runsewe?
Otunba Runsewe believes in innovation. The moment you believe in innovations, you would step on the toes of people who never believe in moving forward. People want to remain in one place. Even while in government, those who didn’t understand my vision did not celebrate me. That is the disconnect. I believe in my originality; i believe in my own thing and want to always do my own thing.

In all these, what has life taught you?
I’ll be a bit spiritual this time. What life has taught me in all these years is to thank God, wherever I find myself. Whichever way you feel, you have a challenge other challenges are more than your own. To make things better, you must thank God for today because there can’t be champions without challenges. There is no success without struggle and we must all abide by the spirit of believing in God. God owns the next minute of our lives. So, we should enjoy the best of every minute of our lives because nobody knows what would happen in the minutes to come.

So, how do you unwind?
Unwinding is very important to the body chemistry. If you can up with me on the dancing floor on a good day, I’ll give you a run for your money. Life is worth celebrating. You can never know what tomorrow would bring. You heard of the doctor who committed suicide on the third mainland bridge. if that doctor had been involved in accident three minutes before that time, and had his ribs broken, his mother would have said, God was not fair; the death of that guy is a lesson for all of us that we should always thank God for his deliverance known and unknown. if that guy had been involved in accident or armed robbers had attacked him, he would be fighting that now, not the suicide issue. We should always thank God for every situation we find ourselves.

I learnt you play golf these days. Does it also keep you busy on weekends?
I discovered recently that some golfers don’t attend church. On Sunday morning, play golf. Then, I coin a word that there are two G’s. The capital G is God but the small g is golf. So, the capital G comes first but the small g can come anytime. It is not as important as the capital G. It’s just a swag way of praising God and that we must not compared GOD with anything. You cannot give the time of the capital G to the small g. You can never see Otunba Runsewe playing golf on a Sunday morning. I cannot give what is for God to anything inasmuch as I love to play golf. We travel to Oturkpo, Sen. David Mark’s golf course to play golf sometimes and we play on Saturdays and Sundays only. On Sunday, other golfers would be looking for me because by then, I was already in church. It was later they would tell me they were searching for me.

I told them I could not sacrifice my Sunday morning for anything. There and then, two, three or four people have changed their attitudes of playing golf on Sunday morning. Most of the Muslims I played golf with, when it was time for prayers would tell me to wait. They would say their prayers and continue. There is over 6 billion dollars that would be going into golf by 2019. The money is ready in the international golf circle. I want Nigeria to get a chunk of it. Meanwhile, only two African countries are making moves to get their shares of that fund coming into golf.

The countries are South Africa and Zimbabwe. With the effort I have put, Nigeria is in one of the calendar line of countries that will benefit from this 6 billion dollars.
I started playing golf six years ago. Golf is a holistic game and I want to plead with Nigerians who have not discovered golf before the age of 50 to connect with the game. Golf is the only game that you play and your body chemistry communicates on just one swing. Golf shows who you are. If you want to know an introvert or an extrovert when a golfer hits the ball, it tells much story about the person standing behind the ball. Golf brings out the character in everyone. It’s a unique game. in golf, we play 18 holes, if you play 18 holes with a lady or a gentleman, you will know that person more than when you live with the person for 18 years. The 18 holes is about 4 hours and the four hours tells the story about every individual.

You advised that every Nigerian before age 50 should play golf. But there’s the assumption that golf is a game of the rich, what’s your take on that?
In 1937, there was a guy called Rocky Miller. He was a staunch golfer. He granted a journalist an interview and he said to the journalist, “let us meet on the golf course. “The journalist got there and met many prominent people. That incident also contributed to people’s perception that golf is a game for the elites. No, golf is for everybody. I will give you this analogy. In golf-kitting, we have the standards of a Mercedez, a Lexus, a Lamboughini, a Jaguar and a Keke Napep. If you think you cannot afford any of these big time brand, you can go for the smaller brand. That is why people misunderstand what golf is all about. Are you aware that to play polo, you need a horse? Do you know that you can play golf with two or three clubs, it depends on who you are. If you want the best, you can get the best but would pay a price for it. So, I want to remove the assumption that golf is for the elites only.

You are a power dresser, are you a designer freak?
Life is to be enjoyed. Let me give one of these to my wife. My wife loves designing clothes and does many things for me. I want to look good on every occasion; from color combination, to branding, to brand identity, I want to look unique. I love it. Even when I come out to play golf, people see a different outlook in the golfing environment. I love designers, i love to look good and I will pay any price to look good.

Source: sunnewsonline.com

Uncategorized

Harmony Gardens MD, Saheed Mosadoluwa Refutes Smear Campaign, Clarifies Relationship with Oba Awujale

Published

2 months ago

February 9, 2024

CelebrityPlus

Renowned real estate developer, Hon. Saheed Mosadoluwa also Known as Mr Ibile, who is currently a victim of an ongoing online defamatory campaigns and series of frivolous petitions, has refuted claims of land grabbing, and clarified his relationship with the revered Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Ogbagba II.

Mr. Ibile, the Managing Director of Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Ltd, addressed accusations during a press meeting on Tuesday, emphasizing his respect for the respected traditional ruler who he referred to as his grandfather, and his desire for peaceful resolution.

Ibile vehemently denied recent allegations, attributing them to a smear campaign orchestrated by his detractors, led by alleged landgrabbers’ lawyer, whom he described as a “defamatory lawyer.” engaged by Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi and an accused renowned landgrabber, Kazeem Salami, a.k.a All Rounder Ajagungbale, who he claims to have sponsored 39 petitions orchestrated by these individuals, all of which he refuted.

“They keep recycling the same allegations and using the media to manipulate law enforcement agencies and authorities,” Ibile stated.

Addressing the specific claims of land disputes with the Awujale, Ibile clarified that “the monarch expressed interest in a portion of the disputed Eyin Osa land, and he readily offered it since the same people that sold to him confirmed that, they gave the monarch 8 hectares at the same land, and that bestow privilege to Kazeem Salami to leverage on the oba’s influence through the Kakanfo to Awujale to instigate the king’s influence against Ibile for his landgrabbing interest, but no matter how the case may be, the Kabiyesi Awujale is the owner of Saheed Ibile and whatever belong to Saheed”.

In showcasing his respect for the revered figure. He denounced the misuse of the Awujale’s name by his adversaries in the ongoing duplication and frivolous petitions, proceedings, and media narratives.

“It’s even funny that anyone would think I’d be dragging land with a man of such stature. The Awujale is my father and role model being a sign of customary authority who remain the face and image of the Yoruba land.,” Ibile remarked.

“I had left the issues for our fathers: The Oloja of Epe in person of Oba Kamoru Animashaun and HRH. OBA Olusegun Awokoya to fully resolve whatever to wherever they want, and handover our company’s 94 hectares Survey plan investment within the Eyin Osa ressetlement land, out of what link our father,Oba Awujale or that of Baba Rafiu Jafojo to our company since they are the consenting authority of the ressetlement land”, he said.

Amidst the accusations, Ibile called for a transparent investigation. He urged the Inspector General of Police to establish special panel enquiries in camera to probe the allegations and expose the “real evil-doers” in Ibeju-Lekki/Epe area. “I am still not having any issues with the way police detaining me to please my detractors, trying to hide under the Awujale’s influence not because of concrete investigations but because the new petitions are duplication of what has been investigated before and charge to different courts”, Ibile added.

He expressed confidence in his innocence and called for justice for all parties involved, including those accusing him of landgrabbing, kidnapping and willful destructions to properties and himself, a victim of alleged cyberstalking, libel, demarketing and defamation.

Business

Lagos Brands Expert Tunji Folami Reflects On life @ 60

Published

3 months ago

February 1, 2024

CelebrityPlus

Lagos businessman,Tunji Folami is 60. That is the big news. And this is authoritative. For those who still can’t catch the drift,lets quickly tell you that this handsome, ever smiling man is a strategically robust and creative Public Relations, Events management and Brands expert with over 30 years wealth of management experience and a track record of successful practice across industries.

It is not all works for this Lagos dude as he also belongs to the major social clubs in town.Deeply strategic and highly creative, Tunji has been behind several highly successful and award winning marketing and brand initiatives over the years and still waxing strong.

Born 1st February 1964, Folami attended Surulere Baptist School for his primary education in Lagos. He proceeded to Adeola Odutola college, Ijebu ode for his secondary and later Studied Political science.

His late father was a foremost Chartered Accountant who was a senior partner at Akinola Williams and co.He is a member of the prestigious Island club, where he had been management committee member and later Social Secretary for three years. He is also a member of Eko club, where he belongs to the social committee, member, Immaculate club 17, where he was a past vice chairman.

He was a member of the Rotaract club from 1984 to 1989. He has subsequently been very active in humanitarian affairs.

He will be launching an NGO, *Phanso Altruistic Foundation* for the promotion of the less privileged as part of his desire to help the society during his birthday celebration .

He was also the National publicity secretary of Adeola Odutola College old Students Association until last year. He is also the president of his old students set at Adeola Odutola college, Ijebu ode 75/80.

To celebrate this milestone,Folami is set to pull the crowd for a celebration of life at the prestigious Island Club on Sunday 4th February,2024.

The suave gentleman spoke to Celebrityplusnonline on the journey so far. Excerpts.

How do you juggle your normal day to day job with your social life?

This is a question I get asked by a lot of people. They always ask me how I juggle this. The first thing I will say is commitment.By the very nature of my business, social life is a normal thing for me. Most of my services are events related hence I am always at home with social life.

At 60,what is on your mind?

My further resolve is to be committed to the cause of humanity. I pray I should be able to achieve more peace and contentment in all my endeavours.

You are very passionate about Humanitarian affairs, what informed this?

I know what it looks like to have shared support from friends and family. I wish same for the less privileged of the society. That is why I am dedicated to coordinating humanitarian support for the needy.

Let’s delve a bit into your Phanso Altruistic Foundation,what informed this?

It is essentially an NGO founded with commitment for the service of the less privileged. The NGO is a purpose vehicle for the harnessing of the support of my friends and family to support those in need. Everywhere you look,people need something.Altough we don’t necessarily have all that is required to support those in need but we will reach out to others to please be their brothers keeper. Our slogan is “celebrate with purpose”. We will approach our friends to please give to humanity in celebration of their memorable days such as birthdays and anniversaries . Those you help today might be able to help others tomorrow and the world will be a better place to be.

You also seem to command a lot of respect among your friends both young and old within the various social clubs you belong,this is uncommon?

It’s just mutual respect for each other. I value and respect my friends and I am deeply committed to being there for them. That has obviously brought my few friends and I together. I keep detailed information about everyone I know particularly their birthdays. Every midnight I greet my friends in all the clubs, old students association and family for their birthday. That has also endeared me to a lot of them in some way.

What is Tunji’s life philosophy?

Do unto others as you wish done unto you.