Ebibai Esther Brinemigha, Nigeria’s first female technical professional coach and sports psychologist in golf, recently graduated from the National Institute for Sports in Surulere, Lagos, and is already turning heads with her inspiring journey and clear vision for the future of the game.
Reflecting on her decision to pursue a career in sports, Esther explained, “From my personal experience, many of us are inspired by the love of the game, the challenge of improving our skills or the influence of role models like Tigerwood and Jack Nicholas. It is the combination of skill, strategy, and mental toughness that makes golf so captivating.
Some of my family and friends were supportive when they saw the talent and dedication, although others were skeptical due to the financial and competitive challenges of a golf career,” She told Sports247.
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Asked about the challenges of entering a traditionally male-dominated sport, she noted, “It used to be a male-dominated sport, but these days, both women and men play golf. Every golf course across the country now has a ladies’ section, and we even have the Nigerian Ladies Golf Association.
I remember playing at Jaji Golf Club—now known as Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim Golf Club—where I was the first to organise and participated in the first ladies’ open golf championship tournament in 2009 as the lady captain.”
When discussing her experience at the National Institute for Sports, Esther described it as “a beautiful experience.” She credited her mentors at NIS—Mr. Oladeji Bolaji, Coach Bridget, and Mr. Bako—for encouraging her growth, adding that support from figures outside the institute, such as Rear Admiral Adesokan Ayo and Dr. Mrs. Lember Amua, was equally vital.
“I also want to thank Mr. John, the accountant in my office, and Chief Akarara for their constant support. A special thank you goes to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri who first employed me when he was the commissioner for sports after the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta in 2006 and helped finance my journey,” she said.
Looking ahead, Esther shared her short- and long-term goals: “I plan to reach out to secondary schools to catch young talent from the grassroots, train them for competitions, and discover potential future stars. I want to show young girls and women that there is no limit to what we can achieve in sports.
There is a myth that only men can excel, but I believe that what a man can do, a woman can do even better sometimes. Now that I have opened the way, I encourage more female professionals to join and help take Nigerian golf to the global stage.”
Esther’s message to aspiring athletes and coaches is clear: “Sports is not just about playing; it’s about learning, growing, and making a positive impact. With dedication and the right guidance, anyone can excel. I give all the glory to God for seeing me through, and I pray that my achievements inspire others to follow their dreams.”
