Sports

We will use your money judiciously – Gusau assures NFF’s partners and sponsors

Published

4 years ago

November 7, 2022

Joel Ajayi

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has provided the Federation’s corporate partners and sponsors with strong assurance that the new NFF administration will put their monies to judicious use in developing the game of football in Nigeria to the benefit of all stakeholders.

At warm and insightful interactions with a number of the partners and sponsors in Lagos on Monday, the NFF supremo, in company with immediate past NFF boss and FIFA Council Member, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the frontline corporates and appealed for even greater support for the Nigeria game at this time.

Pinnick’s role, described as noble and in the national interest by Gusau, was to formally introduce the new NFF President to the corporate partners, most of them brought on board by the former helmsman.

“For the first time in decent memory in Nigeria Football, we had a rancour-free transition from one Executive team to the other. It is as a result of the deep respect and strong passion for Nigeria Football and the Nigeria nation that we all share. It is for this reason that I have decided to introduce the new helmsman to you in order that you can continue to interact with and support him and the Federation to achieve their vision and mission,” Pinnick said at the office of MTN Nigeria (NFF’s official telecommunications partner), with Chief Executive Officer Carl Toriola, Chief Operating Officer Hassan Jaber, Chief Corporate Services Officer Tobechukwu Okigbo and Chief Marketing Officer Adia Sowho all seated.

In his remarks, Gusau thanked MTN for their strong support to Nigeria Football and Nigeria sports generally: “We appreciate what you have been doing for the game of football and we want you to continue, and even do more so that the new Board can be enabled to work assiduously to lift the Nigeria game to new heights. We apologize for the inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the FIFA World Cup starting in Qatar next week but we want to use this opportunity to commence the hard work necessary to avoid such mis-step in the future.

“I am assuring you that whatever funds come through you will be put to judicious use as we are presently cutting down on expenses to ascent prudence and manage available resources to achieve the best results.”

Toriola responded that having signed a long-term contract with the football body, his organization would not break same because of a missed World Cup tournament. “We will continue to support the Federation until Nigeria football gets to the level it should be internationally. We must re-energize ourselves for the work at hand. I must commend Mr. Pinnick’s exceptional dynamism and the MTN commits to supporting the new administration.”

The same theme of appreciation and pledges of judicious use of funds and optimization of resources ran through the other meetings, with Executive Vice President of AITEO Group (NFF’s official optimum partner), Mr. Francis Peters pledging his company’s continued support and encouragement to the new Board.

At Premier Lotto, the Managing Director Mr. Adebisi Adebutu said his company will explore even other areas they can support the NFF, in addition to the present partnership agreement. “I must say that we had a wonderful relationship with the Board headed by Mr. Pinnick and we believe we will have same cordial relationship with the new Board.”

Stanbic IBTC (NFF’s official bank) also pledged continued support to the NFF, through Charles Omoera, Chief Executive: “We are particularly interested in the women’s football and youth programs you have enunciated and are ready and willing to commit to these programmes to develop Nigeria’s future legends and icons of the game.”

NFF’s chief marketing consultant, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor lauded the peaceful elections that brought in Gusau, and commended the role being played by Pinnick. “Pinnick has stout corporate drive and high relevance, and I believe he will help the new Board in that area. We will give ample support to the new Board but we want you to beware of the antics of ambush marketers and put stern measures in place to discourage them.

“Pamodzi Sports Marketing will be there for the new Board and will provide advice when necessary, because football is a passion that runs through the blood of every Nigerian and brings all of us together.”

Sanusi added that indeed, without Pamodzi Sports Marketing, things would have been a lot more difficult for a number of NFF administrations over the past two decades

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Sports

NSC Disburses Another ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympic Games

Published

9 hours ago

October 30, 2026

The Gleamer

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disbursed approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes, providing early boost to the country’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The latest payment marks another milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen athletes’ welfare and ensure sustained preparations for major international competitions under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The latest disbursement is the fifth since the introduction of the quarterly training grants policy in 2025 through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, and the third payment made in 2026.

With the latest payment, the Commission has now disbursed more than ₦1 billion in training grants to Nigerian elite athletes over the past two years.

The initiative provides quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 to athletes, depending on their performance and eligibility under the scientific performance indicators established by the Elite and Podium Board.

The policy has been widely welcomed by some of the country’s leading athletes, who have described it as a game changer that has significantly improved their preparations for international competitions by providing consistent financial support for their training needs.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the initiative reflected the Commission’s commitment to building a sustainable system for sporting success through deliberate investment in athletes.

“There are no accidental successes in sports. This is why the Commission has prioritised the welfare and wellbeing of our athletes as a critical part of our strategy for scientific podium success,” Hon, Olopade said.

He said the training grants were among the key mandates given to the Commission’s leadership by President Tinubu to ensure that Nigerian athletes receive the financial support needed to compete effectively at the highest level.

“I am particularly glad that we have been able to institute this athletes’ training grants policy because it is one of the core mandates Mr President gave to Mallam Shehu Dikko and me, to ensure that we put money in the pockets of Nigerian athletes and prepare them adequately for international competitions like the Olympics.”

“We can only get the best out of our athletes when we take care of them properly. By doing so, they will wear the Green and White of our country with pride and dignity. This is why Mr President has continued to support every policy we have introduced to revamp the sports sector,” he said.

Hon. Olopade added that sustained financial support would enable athletes to concentrate on their training without the distractions of financial uncertainty.

“Our athletes need this money to stay focused on their training so they are not distracted in their preparations for major competitions. And we must not forget that when we take care of our athletes, they will take care of the country with medals,” he added.

The impact of the training grants has continued to reflect in Nigeria’s recent performances at international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country emerged as Africa’s leading nation.

The performances of athletes such as Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel, who broke world records, further highlighted the benefits of sustained investment in elite sports development.

Team Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of consistent support for athletes as the country intensifies preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The NSC said the training grants remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s elite sports system, improve international competitiveness and deliver sustained podium success at major global competitions.

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