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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has committed to partnering with key stakeholders in the sports sector to drive the development and commercialisation of football in Nigeria.
This pledge was made by the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC, Mele Kyari, during a meeting with a delegation from the National Sports Commission, the International Management Group (IMG), and AfroSport Network at the NNPC Towers on Thursday.
Speaking at the meeting, Kyari expressed NNPC readiness to contribute significantly to the initiative aimed at revamping Nigerian football.
“NNPC will be a prime partner in the journey to bring back value to our football, to reshape it, re-engineer it, and bring happiness to our people,” Kyari stated.
He emphasised that the company was honoured to be recognised as a critical partner in this endeavor, highlighting football’s potential to deliver substantial economic benefits both for the nation and for NNPC itself.
Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, also addressed the delegation, noting that football played a fundamental role in the economies of leading footballing nations.
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He reiterated that President Bola Tinubu had called for urgent measures to revitalize the sport in Nigeria.
Dikko underscored the vast multiplier effects that the football industry could have, boosting related sectors across the value chain.
The Minister also highlighted the involvement of IMG, the renowned promoter of the English Premier League, which has been invited as a technical partner to apply its extensive experience to the project.
This partnership marks a significant step towards reviving Nigerian football, with NNPC’s history in the sport being a part of the conversation.
The company once operated a football club, NNPC FC, based in Warri, which participated in Division One of the Nigeria National League until its disbandment in 1989.
NNPC’s renewed commitment to Nigerian football promises to be a transformative force for the sport and its related industries, aligning with the nation’s broader economic goals.
