Sports

EDITORIAL: 2023/24 NPFL, NFF And Its Immense Prospects

Published

3 years ago

November 6, 2023

By Joel Ajayi

Before the League Management Company (LMC) took over management of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL in 2012, the league was the best in Africa and rated higher than the Scottish league.

12 years after that outstanding start, the league lacks a realistic calendar, is unable to retain top talents, and the coaching has devolved into a bygone era with administrators without innovations.

Over the years NPFL has always been in an abridged form that didn’t bring the beauty of the league, but early this year hope beckoned on the league as former Minister of Youth and Sports Sunday Dare took a bold step to declare League Management Company LMC under Mallam Shehu Dikko who did not add any value to the league an illegal body.

He did not leave any stone unturned to ensure people of worthy character took over, and this gave birth to the Interim Management Committee (IMC) under the able leadership of former National Sports Commission Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye Since then there has been a visible improvement in the league as a result of many innovations on the league.

On June 2023 Hon Elegbeleye was re-appointed as Chairman of the reconstituted board by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, following his successful piloting of the now defunct Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) last season.

There are Some of the innovation in the ongoing league includes live streaming of 8 out of 10 matches of the Propel Sports Africa PSA where 100 countries of the world will have the opportunity to watch the Nigeria league.

Just on Thursday, Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Thursday in Abuja signed a five-year broadcast sponsorship rights contract worth N5.3bn with Cable TV giants StarTimes

NPFL Chairman Honorable Gbenga Elegbeleye told the media at the signing ceremony that StarTimes will pay an initial N1.06bn in the first year of the sponsorship package and an annual increment of N50 million for four years from 2023 to 2028.

Elegbeleye added that the signing of the contract is a fulfillment of his promise to Nigerians that Nigeria’s domestic football league will return to television commending the cable TV company for partnering with the NPFL to improve the domestic league.

Also speaking at the signing ceremony, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, said the broadcast deal was aimed at driving the interest of football fans in the country to the NPFL games like the foreign football leagues such as the English Premier League (EPL).

Earlier, the CEO of StarTimes, Joshua Wang, announced that the company won the broadcast rights of the top tier Nigeria Football League for five years effective from 2023.

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Sports

PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon Splashes Big Prize Money Ahead Of 14 November 2026 Race

Published

4 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

Top Three Elite Finishers To Earn $8,000, $6,000 And $5,000 Respectively

The organisers of the highly anticipated PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon have announced an attractive prize package for athletes across every category ahead of the race on 14 November 2026 in Abuja.

The prize announcement has been welcomed by athletes and coaches, as the event continues to establish itself as one of the leading road races in Nigeria. The race offers local athletes the chance to compete against international runners in front of a home crowd, while also earning meaningful rewards.

In the elite category, first place earns $8,000, second place takes $6,000, third place gets $5,000, fourth place receives $4,000, fifth place goes home with $3,000, sixth place earns $2,000, seventh place takes $1,000, and eighth place gets $500.

In the Nigerian category, first place earns ₦2,000,000, second place takes ₦1,500,000, third place gets ₦1,000,000, fourth place receives ₦500,000, fifth place goes home with ₦300,000, sixth place earns ₦200,000, seventh place takes ₦100,000, and eighth place gets ₦50,000.

According to the organisers, the prize structure reflects the commitment of PremiumTrust Bank to the growth of athletics in Nigeria and to the encouragement of home based athletes. The separate Nigerian category ensures that local runners are properly recognised and rewarded for their performance.

The half marathon, which covers 21 kilometres, remains an important event for long distance runners. It serves as a test of endurance and preparation, and it provides a competitive platform for athletes building towards major national and international competitions.

The race is expected to draw elite athletes, club runners, corporate teams, fitness enthusiasts and supporters from across Nigeria and beyond. The turnout is expected to be high, given the interest already shown since registration opened.

Organisers have advised interested runners to register early through the official registration portal of the race to secure their participation, as arrangements are being put in place for timing, security, medical support and traffic management on race day.

The prize money is now confirmed, attention will shift to the athletes as they complete their final weeks of training and preparations ahead of the race day.

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