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Our Desire Is To Have Best NPFL-LMC

Published

6 years ago

November 13, 2019

…As NEXT TV, 9mobile Sign MOU For Production Of League Matches

Joel Ajayi

The Chairman of League Management Company LMC Alhaji Shehu Dikko has reiterated that the ultimate desire of the League Organizer is to ensure the best Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL.

He gave this assurance at the media briefing on the NPFL, Next Digital TV, and others on Tuesday in Abuja when the NEXT Digital TV and 9mobile have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the production of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches.

The agreement was signed and sealed when Chairman of NEXT Digital TV, Prince Malik Ibrahim and Ag Director of Marketing, 9Mobile, Layi Orafowokan joined forces through the MOU in the presence of the LMC and prospective partners, First Bank, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Wema Bank.

Speaking at the briefing LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, explained the partnership as a strategic move in line with international best practice to help in growing the NPFL matches.

According to him, we are working tirelessly to ensure the best NPFL and with this partnership which was approved by the 20 NPFL club owners will change the narrative of Nigeria through a quality football and our priority is to take Nigerian league to the next level.

“What we are doing is something that is new, unique and has not been done before in this country, but it is what is been done everywhere across the globe to develop football”.

While Outlined the LMC, NPFL, NEXT Digital TV partnership that stand on Four pillars which include; Investment into NPFL Operations; Production of NPFL matches ; Sales of the NPFL content produced to ensure its broadcast across all platforms including the primary the Next TV OTT platform and commercialization of NPFL rights to generate enough revenues into the system with NPFL earnings hugely optimized.

“This will indeed allow free-flow of investment into the NPFL with a five-year projection of $200m.

“It’s only Nigerians that can develop Nigeria and we have to work with the best partners, delivery system and learn what is done in developed clime so that we can domestic it here”.

“The first pillar which is the most important is that we will invest in the NPFL and that will ensure that football will keep running and operating in a professional way”.

“The second pillar is that we will produce NPFL matches through the investment of NEXT TV, technical expertise and support. All over the world, league football is driving by production, which means if you don’t produce your content, you will not earn money. The reason why all global leagues are dominating our network is that somebody is producing those matches and put them on the plane for all networks to buy.

“The forecast of the five years’ agreement is $200m and it is a projection that is available with the guarantee that money will come into the league every year and everybody will be carried along,” Dikko stated.

He commended the Minister of sports, Sunday Dare, for supporting the initiative and insisted that the right things are done to move NPFL to the next level.

“I want to thank the minister of Sports, who has been very supportive of what we are doing since he came on board and also piled pressure to ensure that things are done in the right way to move our league to the next level.”

Speaking also, was the Chairman of the Next TV, Prince Malik Ibrahim, said the venture as Nigerian initiative, the investment is not for us but for all Nigerian that is why we are inviting and urging all stakeholders especially the media to come together and embrace it for the growth of Nigeria soccer.

“It is a joint venture investment in the production of NPFL matches and that makes them appealing to people both at home and other climes”.

“200million Nigerian is united by soccer and we need to take advantage of Digital Technology.

“We are united by soccer and it is a long term project that will take NPFL to the next level and the content will be available for everybody on the 9moblie network”.

While giving brief guide on how Next Digital TV will work, he said: “Nigerian don’t need decoder to watch the matches all we need is just your Phones, with your Phone anywhere in the world you will watch the league live that is why we are working with 9mobile to ensure there is network everywhere within and outside the country.

“Your Phone is your decoder just connects it with your TV and it will work.

“We are going to start with four matches as well as a highlight for others with 6 cameras in every match venue,” he explained.

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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