Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-15 03:37:06
Nationwide League One (NLO), Nigeria’s third-tier football club championship, has recently finalized a N964 million title sponsorship deal with New Year Mega Lottery, a sports betting firm. The agreement designates the company as the official title sponsor of the league for the upcoming four seasons. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place at the Harris Hotel in Wuye, Abuja, where Silas Agara, the NLO chairman and former Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, revealed that the Nigerian licensed lottery company would provide an annual cash payment of N241 million, along with a value in kind, amounting to N964 million for the duration of the sponsorship contract.
Agara emphasized that this sponsorship not only highlights NLO as a football organization but also acknowledges its position as the league with the largest talent pool in Africa. The partnership between Nationwide League One and New Year Mega Lottery aims to enhance the promotion and status of grassroots football in Nigeria, positioning it as a prominent domestic spectacle and a flourishing league on the continent.
During the ceremony, Obiorah Emmanuella, the Head of Corporate Communications at New Year Mega Lottery, expressed the firm’s passion for football and its humanitarian commitments as driving forces behind the decision to sponsor the NLO. Emmanuella underscored the company’s excitement to engage with a wide audience through this sponsorship, driven by a genuine love for soccer and a strong dedication to social responsibility in alignment with their humanitarian initiatives.
Through this collaboration, New Year Mega Lottery looks forward to engaging with young football talents at the grassroots level across Nigeria, supporting their growth and development. The company’s commitment to nurturing and empowering athletes, creating opportunities, and delighting fans within its market serves as the core motivation for partnering with NLO. Emmanuella also urged other well-meaning Nigerians to join in supporting the advancement of sports like football to help the country reach its potential on the global stage.
In conclusion, the partnership between Nationwide League One and New Year Mega Lottery signifies a significant step towards elevating grassroots football in Nigeria and enhancing the overall football landscape in the country. Through this sponsorship deal, both parties aim to foster talent development, promote sports engagement, and contribute to the growth of football at all levels.
