NNPC Ltd Commits to Revamping Nigerian Football in Collaboration with Stakeholders
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has expressed its commitment to revitalizing and commercializing football in Nigeria through a strategic partnership with stakeholders in the sports sector.
The pledge was made by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, during a meeting with a delegation from the National Sports Commission, the International Management Group (IMG), and Afrosport Network at the NNPC Towers on Thursday.
Mr. Kyari emphasized the company’s readiness to play a pivotal role in the initiative to rejuvenate Nigerian football. “NNPC will be a prime partner in the journey to bring back value to our football, to reshape it, re-engineer it, and bring happiness to our people,” he stated.
He highlighted football’s potential as a powerful economic driver and a source of unity and joy, affirming NNPC Ltd’s strategic interest in supporting the sport to unlock its benefits for the nation and the company.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, who led the delegation, stressed the importance of football in driving economic growth in leading footballing nations. He revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had called for urgent measures to revamp Nigerian football, noting the sport’s significant multiplier effects across industries.
To achieve this, IMG, renowned for its promotion of the English Premier League, has been enlisted as a technical partner to leverage its expertise in transforming the game.
NNPC Ltd’s involvement in Nigerian football is not new. The company previously operated the NNPC FC, Warri, which competed in Division One of the Nigeria National League before being disbanded in 1989.
With this renewed commitment, NNPC Ltd aims to play a key role in restoring Nigerian football to its former glory, creating a ripple effect of growth and opportunities across the nation.
