Local authorities in Nigeria on Tuesday said the goal of a newly set-up golf academy was to groom talents to compete with the world's best professional golfers in the nearest future.

David Mark-Junior, president of Otukpo Golf Academy in Nigeria's central Benue State, said that about 400 trainees were already undergoing development program for the task ahead.

"The Academy has about 400 trainees, which makes it the largest golf academy in Africa. What we are trying to do is to build up those young boys and girls between ages six to 18 and ensure that by the time they are 17 years old, they have not just good golf experience and techniques but good life in schools," the official said.

According to him, young golfers from the academy have already started representing Nigeria in international competitions in which they came atop in a particular category.

This placed Nigeria as the best in Africa at junior golf category, he added.