Golf enthusiasts in Lagos have rallied around autism awareness as the seventh edition of the Play with Stephen Gold Tournament, themed “Swing for Autism,” brought together 69 golfers at Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate to use sport as a platform for advocacy, awareness and support for people living with autism.
The tournament, convened by Stephen Onaivi, builds on previous editions held in Ghana, where golfers from different countries have participated in the initiative to raise awareness about autism and encourage greater understanding and support for people and families affected by the condition.
Speaking on the motivation behind the tournament, Onaivi said golf provides an effective vehicle for bringing people together while drawing attention to an issue that deserves greater public understanding.
“Play with Stephen is a golf tournament. I play golf with a lot of my friends, and they help us create awareness for autism because the tournament is branded as ‘Swing for Autism,’” he said.
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Onaivi explained that his personal connection to autism also influenced his decision to use the tournament as a platform for advocacy, although he noted that the details of his family’s experience were a separate matter.
He said the initiative was driven by the need to contribute to solutions to social challenges facing communities across the continent, with autism being one area where greater awareness could make a difference.
“It’s just because of the story, it felt like it is something that we can do as golfers to create awareness for this solution,” he said.
According to him, the tournament is not primarily about competition but about using the popularity and network of golf to encourage conversations around autism and generate support for people living with the condition.
The Lagos edition attracted 69 golfers, with Onaivi explaining that the number was deliberately managed to remain within the capacity of the golf course.
“We have got 69 golfers that play. We have to make sure that the capacity of the course is met because of the number of participants that we have today,” he said.
Beyond the seventh edition, Onaivi said the organisers intend to sustain the tournament annually while expanding its reach and bringing more golfers into the autism awareness campaign.
“We keep doing it every year,” he said, adding that the organisers would continue to recruit more golfers and use the sport to create greater awareness.
For Onaivi, however, awareness is only the beginning. He said the long-term objective is to move from advocacy to practical support for autism centres.
“The first thing for us is awareness. The next level is to see how we support centres,” he said.
He expressed hope that the initiative could inspire golfers and members of the wider community to become more informed about autism and take meaningful action.
“Imagine every golfer in Nigeria knows what autism is and what to do. They want to take some action to create a solution,” Onaivi said.
The “Swing for Autism” tournament therefore seeks to demonstrate how sport can extend beyond recreation and competition to become a platform for social impact.
With golfers gathering not only to play but also to lend their voices to the call for greater support, care and understanding, the organisers hope the initiative will continue to grow across Nigeria and beyond.
For Onaivi and the Play with Stephen team, the ambition is clear: keep playing, keep creating awareness and ultimately turn that awareness into tangible support for people living with autism.
