Lagos — Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament introduced into the Calabar Festival last year has been described as a veritable tool to boost the tourism potentials of the state.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State disclosed this on Wednesday at the Calabar Golf Club after teeing off the tournament, adding that apart from boosting the tourism drive of the state, it is also meant to support children in motherless babies home.

Imoke, who was represented by Mr. Bassey Ika Oqua, Commissioner for Lands and Housing, said the tournament which will round off on Friday, December 18 has made a lot of progress as 80 percent of Nigerian based golf professionals have registered to participate.

The Governor remarked that the tournament is expected to attract great prizes as well as get new winners through a competitive but healthy atmosphere.

Mr. Takis Etim Caifas, Deputy General Manager in charge of Cross River State at First Bank PLC said their sponsorship of the Calabar Festival and the golf tournament was in line with the corporate social responsibility of the bank as well as help the needy in the society which the tournament is all about.

Caifas described the tournament as a reasonable idea which the bank sees itself as its back bone for it to succeed, adding that "the elephant has put its heavy weight behind it to record tremendous success, adding that the ideology of the tournament is to help abandoned children which should be supported by all that have the interest of such children at heart especially at this time of the year.

Mr. Dominic Andrew, a participant and executive member of the professional golf players association from Abuja ,remarked that the objectives of the tournament have been more than achieved as it afforded them the opportunity to visit the motherless babies home in Calabar as well as meet and make new friends.

Andrew explained that the tournament also gave them the opportunity to plough back to the society in one way as well as afforded them the opportunity to excel as professional golfers.

A programme made available at the Calabar Golf Club indicated that men, veteran and women will swing between December 17 - 18 while the presentation of prizes and awards will take place at the Calabar Carnival Queen Night at Tinapa Leisure and Business Resort on December 19.