Tag: the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)

Strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited, have joined other football stakeholders across the country in mourning the death of Rangers International of Enugu’s Director of Media and Communications, Mr. Norbert Okolie.

In a statement released to the media in Lagos on Monday, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, said the organisation received with deep shock the news of the passing of the veteran photojournalist, who made immense contributions to the growth and development of the elite league.

“GTI Group received with shock the passing of one of the outstanding Media Directors of NPFL clubs, Norbert Okolie, who, according to the management of Enugu Rangers, died over the weekend after a brief illness.

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“His death has created a huge vacuum in the football ecosystem because Okolie enriched his work by elevating the quality of media content produced for the elite league and his club, Rangers International.

“Okolie, who was once the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), carried out his duties with dedication, professionalism, and great passion. He will be greatly missed by his friends, colleagues, and the entire Rangers and NPFL families.

“We extend our sincere condolences to his immediate family and to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) over his demise,” the statement read.

Ekejiuba further extended GTI’s heartfelt condolences to Okolie’s family, Enugu Rangers, SWAN, and the NPFL Media Directors Association, calling on football fans nationwide to unite in prayer for the bereaved family.

A player whose identity is yet to be revealed has had his registration for the new season put on hold on suspicions of being involved in illegal betting activities.

Sources at the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) declined to name the player but confirmed that a letter has been sent to him and his club.

It was further learnt that trouble started for the player, who is a goalkeeper, when his club terminated his contract on allegations of engagement in betting.

At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, the issue of betting by players was extensively deliberated on with a resolution to intensify efforts at curbing the practice.

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Another source at the league office revealed that the case of the player was flagged when a Southwest club notified the board of the players decline to fill out the contract form which contains clause forbidden players from betting. The clause provided for immediate termination of the contract.

“It is part of a renewed resolve to clamp down on suspected betting syndicates allegedly working with some players and club officials of the NPFL,” the source affirmed.

It was learnt that the suspension is to enable detailed investigation into allegations of his involvement in betting while playing for a North Central state club.

“We have made representations to the relevant security agencies and have received assurances that they would deploy forensic intelligence instruments,”  an official of the NPFL said.

In its resolve to sustain the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) round of calendar established in the recently concluded season, the Board on Friday announced that the 2025/26 season will commence on August 22, 2025, and end on May 22, 2026.

At a review of last season’s statistics and projections for the new season, Chairman of the NPFL, Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, said the league is determined to establish a traditional period for the competition to enable clubs, players, match officials, and scouts to plan their own calendar.

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He recalled that the board kept to its calendar for the last season, which began on August 31, 2024, and concluded on May 25, 2025.

He said the season was remarkable in the emergence of Remo Stars as the champions with three matches to spare after defeating Niger Tornadoes on Matchday 35 on April 27.

Giving a breakdown of numbers, he noted that of the total of 380 games, there were 286 wins and 94 were drawn, with a total of 784 goals scored.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has again frowned at the deliberate flouting of its naming right by unscrupulous corporate organizations and their collaborators as organisers.

The Chairman of the NPFL, Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye made the observation on the heels of an announced  Eunisell Boot Award for the highest goal scorer in the just ended 2024/25 season.

Elegbeleye said the league appreciates value adding schemes such as the proposed payment of N3.6m awarded to Anas Yusuf, but he insisted that there are laid down procedures for organizations to partner with the League in organising awards.

“It is not right for any persons or organisations to use the name of the NPFL and announce an award without recourse to the asset owners.

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“We are going to use every legal channel to protect our asset from this ambush of the NPFL.  We will write to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission(FCPCC)  so that this illegal activities will stop once for all”, the NPFL boss stated.

He said that the NPFL has the identity of the organisers of the award and has therefore warned the organisers to desist it such the forthwith in their interest.

“There must come a time when we must have to put a stop to end impunity no matter how long the illegality has been going on. This is the time and we must get things right”, Elegbeleye concluded

Match Commissioners  in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)   have been directed to ensure that all clubs and their coaches complied fully with post-match protocols which include interviews with journalists.

Chairman of the NPFL, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye,  passed on the directive through the Matchday Situation Room where the league operations interact with Match Commissioners real time to ensure smooth matchday management.

“It is mandatory for Match Commissioners to ensure that Coaches and players appear for post-match interviews with the media,” Elegbeleye stated.

The Match Commissioners were further directed to include in their report any club and coach that refuses to honour post- match media chat.

“We expect reports of compliance or not from you as any defaulting coach will be sanctioned.

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“Any coach who fails to attend the post-match interview with the media stands to be fined and such fine must be paid before the next game or such coach won’t be allowed on the bench,” the NPFL Chairman warned.

He said it has become necessary to ensure full compliance with this provision of the NPFL Rules and Frameworks following increasing reports by the media partners that they are being denied of content.

“As the NPFL Board, it is our duty to ensure that stakeholders,  especially our media partners are provided the platform to showcase the league through contents they generate from our games. This also helps to take the league to fans who consume these contents on television, radio, social media and print, ” Elegbeleye noted.

Some coaches are known to storm out of the field in anger when their team lose. The monetary sanction is aimed to be a deterrent to curb such unsporting conducts.

It has been a season of twists and turns at the top and bottom zones of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) log with positions changing almost after every Matchday.

At the start of the season, Remo Stars established their title credentials by staying within the top three just as Lobi Stars, Nasarawa and Akwa United struggled to burst loose from the drop zone.

As the season crossed the half line, Remo Stars broke away from the loop, establishing a ten points gap from the chasing pack. But it appears the fierce fight now is for the remaining continental slots, which Ikorodu City is the latest and surprise entrant. They join the quartet of Rivers United, Shooting Stars, Rangers and Enyimba in the jostle for second and third place.

NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, took stock of the ding-dong and expressed excitement over the fierce battle for the league title and continental spots.

After Matchday 28, there  are 10 matchdays  left to conclude the season, and Elegbeleye says the competition has been unprecedented, attributing  the tight contest to improvements in match officiating that may have boosted clubs’ confidence.

“Teams now travel for away games with the mind-set of winning rather than just defending for a point,” he noted.

The NPFL has increasingly attracted new breed of young managers including former Super Eagles players who returned from Europe. From Finidi Georgia to Emmanuel Amuneke and Daniel Amokachi to least a few, the European influence is aiding the competition.

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 There are also the likes of home bred Stars like Imama Amapakabo, Kennedy Boboye, Tony Bulus and others who are all from the same generation.

Elegbeleye pointed to their influence in the rise in coaching standards, arguing that “with the blend of young and experienced tacticians, we are creating an environment where ex-players can transition into coaching roles, and where Super Eagles and international players feel comfortable playing in Nigeria due to the league’s quality.”

He is specifically impressed by Ikorodu City, whose remarkable rise has added a fresh twist to the title race.

“]Ikorodu City’s performance has been impressive. They’ve shown that privately owned clubs can thrive in the NPFL with proper planning, recruitment, and promotion. From struggling early in the season to now challenging for the title and continental spots, they’ve added excitement and credibility to the league. Their journey is a testament to what can be achieved with the right approach.”

On the relegation battle, Elegbeleye noted the fierce competition at the bottom of the table. “While the focus is often on the top, the fight to avoid relegation is equally intense. Any team from 12^th  to 20^th  is still at risk, which shows the level of competition in the league. We’ll be closely monitoring the remaining matches to ensure fairness and integrity.”

With the NPFL delivering drama, quality, and unpredictability, Elegbeleye is confident the league will crown a worthy champion at the end of the season.

Seeking to continually improve the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) ecosystem, a workshop on integrating football and education leveraging on technology was organised in Abuja on Tuesday, February 11.

Organised under the auspices of the NPFL Board led by the Chairman, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye and an international sports management agency, V Agency Sports Management, the workshop was led by Alexandra Végh, the CEO of the Hungary-based agency.

In his presentation at the workshop, which was held at Sheraton Hotels in Abuja, Elegbeleye harped on the need to harness the synergy of sports and education to trigger the inherent potentials.

Elegbeleye said: “Education is key to development. There is no perfect situation, we will continue to work on the imperfect state of the Nigeria league to make it better. All that it requires will be brought in to change the face of Nigeria league.”

Vegh remarked that Nigeria has a rich pool of talents in football, declaring that their mission at the agency is to bridge the gap between talents and opportunities.

 “Nigeria has a rich football culture, and we see extraordinary potential in young players and professionals here. Our goal today is to explore how education, technology, and industry collaboration can shape the future of Nigerian football,” Vegh said.

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Towards achieving their goals, she said that their key strategy is leveraging on technology to make football education more accessible and effective.

 “We will discuss how integrating structured training, scouting, and analysis can create a clear pathway for both players and professionals looking to advance in the game.

 “One of our greatest strengths is our ability to connect education with real-world opportunities. We believe that learning should not stop in the classroom—it must extend into practical experiences, internships, and hands-on collaboration with leading football organizations.

 “A key part of our strategy is leveraging technology to make football education more accessible and effective. Our students receive comprehensive theoretical training in scouting, analysis, and sports business, ensuring they build a strong foundation. But theory alone is not enough—that is why we partner with industry-leading sports technology companies like Hudl and Eyeball, giving students hands-on experience with the tools that professionals use every day. Through our internship programs, students apply their knowledge to real-world projects, gaining practical experience that makes them job-ready from day one.

She noted that V Agency do not only teach skills, but also create the window to connect students to jobs and opportunities in the football ecosystem.

 “We don’t just teach skills—we connect students with real jobs and opportunities, ensuring they can transition seamlessly into professional roles.

 “By working together, we can develop structured career pathways for aspiring football professionals, implement global best practices in scouting, data analysis, and player development, and create more opportunities for Nigerian talent to compete at the international level”.

Végh expressed interest in working with clubs, football academies and universities in the country to assist students with premium value training.

 “We want to work alongside local clubs, academies, and universities to provide students with high-quality training and real-world experience, “she asserted.

To actualise this objective, V Agency Sports Management intends to partner with such industry entities to run hybrid programs through an office in Nigeria that will provide customer support.

“We are also setting up a local office with dedicated customer support, ensuring direct communication, better assistance for students, and stronger collaborations with local football institutions,” she announced.

Partnership deals have become a driving force in the development of sports assets globally, and Nigeria being a sport-loving country is never an exception. From economic growth to social empowerment, partnership deals have the power to transform the trajectory of sports and the lives of those connected to it. These collaborations often involve financial investments, sponsorships, brand activations and technological integration which are essential for advancing the sports ecosystem.

As a kicker, sports assets encompass the tangible and intangible components within the sports industry. Typical examples of sports assets include leagues, tournaments, teams/clubs, stadia, broadcasting rights and other intellectual properties that drive entertainment, fan-engagement cum revenue generation.

In Nigeria, prominent examples of sports assets include the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the President Federation Cup (PFC). Both serve as national treasures that showcase football talent and the promotion of a unifying spirit across the country.

As noted earlier, these assets are not just platforms for competition; they are tools for community development, talent discovery and international representation. They hold immense potential to contribute to Nigeria’s economy or GDP, enhancement of the global image of the country and promote corporate brands when managed effectively.

For example, in the past three years, GTI Group has remained focused, resolute and at the forefront of helping in restructuring and repositioning the elite league in the country by laying a solid structure that drives positively the business aspect of the beautiful game. Thus, partnerships in sports assets involve strategic alliances between sports entities and corporate organizations. These alliances are not limited to financial sponsorships; they often include branding opportunities and media rights collaborations.

For instance, companies invest in sports assets to increase visibility and align their brand with the passion of sports fans. In return, sports organizations benefit from this support by improving their infrastructure, operational systems, enhancing professionalism and expanding their reach. This win-win scenario drives the industry forward, creating an environment conducive for innovation and growth.

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Globally, sponsorships have helped to drive social change and community development. A prime example is MasterCard’s collaboration with Major League Baseball, which integrates social causes like cancer awareness into its sponsorship strategy. Similarly, various sports events are organized to promote advocacy for healthy living. Partnerships can help align commercial success with social impact, benefitting both brands and the communities they serve.

The Media and Publicity department of GTI Group has continuously emphasized the critical role of Corporate Nigeria and other International Conglomerates in supporting sports assets. These partnership deals have the capacity to unlock opportunities for economic growth and global competitiveness. Such investments are not only financially rewarding but also socially impactful, as they contribute to talent development, community building, and national pride.

The socio-economic gains of sports asset partnership deals could be summarized below:

*Boosts GDP: By attracting investments, partnership deals create job opportunities in areas like event management, broadcasting and merchandising; thereby enhancing economic activities for these sports assets cum GDP of the country.

*Talent Development: Sponsorships often fund grassroots programmes and help enable the discovery and nurturing of future stars in various sports disciplines.

* Empowering Youth: Sports partnerships empowers the socio-economic development of the youths, steering them away from negative influences like crime and fostering a culture of discipline and excellence.

* Promoting inclusivity and unity: Sports have a unique ability to bring people together, while partnerships amplify this impact by supporting initiatives that promote social cohesion and community development.

These partnerships underscore GTI’s commitment to fostering growth in the sports sector by enhancing infrastructure, professionalism, and global competitiveness which Corporate Nigeria should latch on to take sports development to the next level in the country.

Therefore, we urge local and multinational corporate brands to exploit partnership deals with the NPFL, PFC and other sports assets for mutual benefits in order to build a vibrant sports economy we all crave.