Sports

NPFL Sponsorship: You are a paid blackmailer, IMC blast rumour mongers

Published

4 years ago

January 20, 2023

…Clear air on GTI, TNFF deals

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL, Interim Management Committee IMC has described the rumour from section of football stakeholders of giving N100 million to the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Sunday Dare as his percentage from the GTI, TNFF League sponsorship deal, as people with paid blackmailers and enemy of the league who are beneficiary of bad system and doesn’t want the progress of the league.

Chairman of the IMC Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye stated this in an interview with a journalist on Thursday in Abuja where he blasted those rumour Monger and tagged them as people with a sick mind and WhatsApp data boys who are suffering from jaundice.

It will be recalled that there was gossip going round that GTI through TNFF dropped N1 Billion sponsorship and Sports Minister got off the money which is 100 million percentage.

Hon. Elegbeleye who cleared air on the GTI and TNFF NPFL Sponsorship deal revealed that, only money received from sponsors was N200 million given to 20 NPFL Clubs and the money was not given to IMC, it was credited to the account of the clubs directly by the GTI group themselves.

According to him, such insinuation can only come from a sick mind, from a jaundiced mind or paid blackmailers. GTI will be reading and listening to us right now, they did not give us a dime. The only money given to clubs was 200 million.

“They gave 200 Million to all the 20 clubs at 10 Million per club and this money was not given to us at IMC. They are not official sponsor of the league, they are just purpose vehicle, they are bankers, and they promise to help us raise fund, using their own image and credible organization and we believe in them but we says before we go ahead please how can you help our 20 Premier league clubs for a Start, because we need support to kick start the league.

“We agreed that, let’s give them N10million naira to each club to kick start, and this money was not given to IMC, it was credited to the account of the club directly by the GTI group themselves.

“Even, the referee’s emolument and bonuses, they paid for it themselves.

“Also, the live show on NTA and others media engagement, they are the one paying for it, we didn’t get anything from them, so for anybody to now say, GTI give IMC 1billion naira and IMC now gave Sports Minister 100 million percentage can only come from beneficiary of failed system.

“Let me tell you this, if Sunday Dare is that kind of a deals man, why was he fighting the old system where they have a lot of money to play around with? He is not a deals man, we did not give him money, we don’t have the money, how can we give money we don’t have, we don’t have money from GTI.

“I know for sure that Sports Writers in Nigeria are credible. I am sure anybody carrying such a rumor is a WhatsApp data boy who is not a journalist, a real journalist will not have such a mind.

“What the sponsor say in the deal, is that between now and next 10 years football season, they will help us to grow our football to have a 10 billion naira minimum commercial value not that they are giving us the 10 billion naira and up till now, IMC is yet to receive a dime from TNFF, GTI and anybody saying that, must be a paid black mailers, must be a beneficiary of the corrupt bad system.”

He therefore promised to leave no stone unturned to ensure Nigeria league get better.

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Sports

Flamingos’ Historic World Cup Feat Draws Musawa’s Commendation

Published

18 hours ago

November 8, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat to claim Nigeria’s first title in the competition and make history as the first African nation to win the tournament.

Awawu Bashiru gave Nigeria the lead in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku extended the advantage two minutes after the restart. Japan’s Fuki Ito reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian girls held on to secure a memorable victory.

In a congratulatory message was signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Nneka Ikem Anibeze on Sunday in Abuja, Musawa described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria and a significant milestone for African women’s football, attributing the success to the team’s resilience, talent and determination.

“This is more than a trophy. It is a story of young Nigerian girls who refused to give up, who rose after defeat, and who carried the hopes of a continent to the top of the world,” she said.

The Minister noted that the Flamingos had broken new ground by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also became the first African country to win both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cup titles.

The team further achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the first side in the competition’s history to lose its opening match and eventually emerge champions.

Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening group-stage encounter, the Flamingos recovered impressively, recording six consecutive victories to lift the trophy.

Musawa particularly praised Umejiaku, who claimed the tournament’s Golden Ball award as the best player, and Bashiru for their crucial contributions in the final.

She also commended the entire squad for their discipline, teamwork and determination throughout the competition.

According to her, the victory demonstrates the creativity, courage and excellence of Nigerian youths on the global stage.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to celebrating and promoting the achievements and inspiring stories of young Nigerians who continue to bring honour to the country.

“Our girls have shown the world what Nigeria is made of. We celebrate you today, and we will continue to stand with you,” she added.

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