A Swing for Something Bigger:Play With Stephen Press Conference & Masterclass Sets the Stage for Accra2025
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
On a rain-slicked Saturday morning at Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, more than just tee shots were launched – a movement was reignited. The Play With Stephen Press Conference and Masterclass unfolded not as a typical sporting event but as a powerful prelude to something bigger: a continent-wide call to action around autism awareness, community, and healing through sport. At the heart of it all is Stephen Oluwatoyin Onaivi, the visionary behind the Play With Stephen initiative. What began in the quiet stillness of the 2020 lockdown – a man and a golf club finding solace – has evolved into a social mission with a growing African footprint. ”A golf club picked me,” Onaivi shared. “It saved me. Now I want it to heal others.”
More Than a Game
With over 50 attendees-including partners, press, and players-the event served as a powerful reminder that golf can be more than recreation. It can be therapy, dialogue, and advocacy. The Masterclass guests engaged with golf not by handicap or technique but as a representation of patience, presence, and purpose.
“Golf isn’t just about form,” Onaivi told the crowd. “It’s about creating space for mental clarity, inclusion, and shared stories. Exactly what this movement stands for.”
All Roads Lead to Accra
The biggest moment of the day came with the official announcement: the 6th edition of the Play With Stephen Golf Tournament is slated to take place from the 22nd to the 24th of August, 2025, in Accra, Ghana. With over 120 golfers already confirmed and limited additional slots opened at the press event, excitement for the upcoming edition is palpable – a testament to the momentum behind the mission.
Play With Stephen isn’t centred on fame or formality – it’s driven by the need to shift perspectives. Despite growing global awareness, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
continues to face significant misconceptions across many African societies. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1 in 100 children is diagnosed with autism, though the true prevalence in Africa may be underreported due to limited diagnostic tools and cultural stigma. In many communities, children with ASD are mischaracterised or hidden from public life, with families often lacking access to early intervention services or inclusive education. This systemic gap highlights the urgency for awareness campaigns, community-based education, and advocacy initiatives like Play With Stephen, which brings visibility and compassion to the forefront. Autism, affecting 1 in 100 children globally, remains widely misunderstood across many African communities. The initiative’s goal is to change that. Every tournament spotlights a “Hero of the Tournament”, someone whose courage in autism advocacy stands as a symbol of strength and progress.
Through emotional storytelling, open education, and experiential events, Play With Stephen continues to challenge the silence, one swing at a time.
Shout-out to the selfless!!!
The ones who show up, plug in, and power purpose. This moment wouldn’t be possible without the partners who brought more than just logos; they brought heart. From CFAO Motors, The Wheatbaker, Pepsi, Lakowe Lakes & Golf Club, lbom Air, Olston Foundation, SPAR Market, to Guinness – each sponsor helped shape a day that meant more than golf. And behind the scenes, powered by EBA (Eni Brand Architect), a coalition of media amplifiers, including AIT, TVC, ARISE, Pulse Nigeria, Lounge Network, ensured the message didn’t just stay on the course – it travelled.
A CalI to Swing Forward
In his closing words, Stephen offered more than thanks. He dropped a challenge:
“If this moment has moved you, then swing with us. Carry this mission into your boardrooms, classrooms, and conversations.”
As Autism Awareness Month wraps, Play With Stephen leaves us with a lasting reminder – advocacy isn’t a seasonal campaign. It’s a culture. It’s continuity. It’s a community.
And this is just the beginning.
