Football reigns supreme in Nigeria, with golf being a largely overlooked sport. However, for Anita Uwadia, golf became a passion that would change the course of her life. Introduced to the game by her father, who had picked it up while living in England, Uwadia initially went to the range with her brother but quickly became enamored with the sport. Her father recognized her talent and purchased her own set of clubs, and Uwadia began practicing at a local course.
Despite the humble facilities, Uwadia was determined to improve, devouring golf books and magazines and practicing her swings at home. When her family moved to a nicer facility, the Ikoyi Club, Uwadia was able to hone her skills further. It was there that her father asked her a question that would change everything: did she want to go to America to play golf?
At the time, Uwadia had no idea that a career in golf was possible, nor did she know about college scholarships. Nevertheless, the idea of going to America seemed exciting, and Uwadia made the journey to South Carolina at the age of 12. She attended Hilton Head Preparatory School and later earned a spot on the University of South Carolina women’s golf team, where she earned All-American Scholar honors all four seasons.
Although Uwadia would eventually pursue a career in golf, she also had a passion for theater and acting, minoring in theater while studying entrepreneurship in college. She even landed the lead role in a production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” in high school. With her outgoing personality and natural charisma, Uwadia has the potential to succeed in any field she chooses.
Uwadia’s story is a testament to the power of passion and the opportunities that can arise from pursuing what you love. Despite golf being a relatively unpopular sport in Nigeria, Uwadia’s determination and skill have allowed her to achieve great things, both on and off the course.
Today, Uwadia is a professional golfer. She joined the Epson Tour in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She played only three events in her first season. However, in 2021, she had two top-15 finishes, and in 2022, she achieved even better results, with two top-five finishes and a pair of T4s at the Copper Rock Championship and the Epson Tour Championship. Uwadia is one of the few Black players on the Epson Tour, alongside Lakareber Abe, Shasta Averyhardt, Alexis Belton, and Ginger Howard.
Uwadia considers Averyhardt to be a mentor who has taught her a lot about the history of Black female golfers and how they have influenced the success of the LPGA organization. As an African, Uwadia finds that the culture is very different from that of African Americans, and Averyhardt has been a great help in navigating this difference. Abe, on the other hand, is Ugandan, and Uwadia feels especially connected to her because she understands African culture and her Nigerian roots.
Although there are hardly any Africans competing on the Epson Tour, Uwadia and Abe support each other on and off the golf course. They share their experiences and send each other memes that every African can relate to. As Black professional golfers, Uwadia and Abe are also role models for young Black girls who look up to them.
Uwadia recognizes her position as a Black professional golfer and what it means to her community that she’s competing at the highest level. She sees it as an opportunity to inspire others to live their truth and go for what they want.
Uwadia has big dreams, and she wants to be the first Black woman to win not just one but countless majors. She also wants to be known as an ambitious and hardworking person, to help the homeless on a large scale, and to become a multi-millionaire and share her wealth.
While the chances of achieving all of these goals are slim, Uwadia remains committed to pursuing them. She believes that her dreams will replay in her mind’s eye every day, and she will keep working and believing that they are possible.
