By Unukere Oboh
League Management Company, LMC, on Tuesday reinstated the benefits of the partnership deal between the Nigerian Professional Football League and Next TV Digital just as it is optimistic that it will help boost the standing of the league in the country.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the LMC who spoke at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Next TV Digital and 9Mobile in Abuja, said that the time has come for Nigerians to look inward for the financial growth of the league.
Dikko noted that the with the signing of the deal by the parties, the league will come alive with matches being televised through the local stations and international channels as well as afford many Nigerians outside the country to watch the games.
“It is a lovely bargain as only Nigerians can deliver Nigeria; we have to do it with the best of partnership and system to get the best of the result.
“This will boost the revenue drive of the league and if you take for instance the over 35 million Nigerians outside the shore of the country who are keen on watching the NPFL and the benefit therein and the marketing potentials of the LMC, we just need to do the right production to get the right leverage,” Dikko explained.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Next TV Digital, Prince Ado Ibrahim said that the partnership will offer Nigeria football the best of the deal as it will use digital innovations to take the game to the next level in the country and globally.
Ibrahim while appreciating the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, for his efforts towards revamping the sports sector, noted that with the new set up, the market value of the league will be beneficial to all the participants.
On his part, the Acting Marketing Director, 9Mobile, Layi Onafowokan said the decision to be part of the development of the league was taking with six weeks because of the company’s quest to help drive the league to a greater height and the viability of the project.
Onafowokan explained that 9Mobile will do everything within its fold to take the league to the doorstep of millions of Nigerians as the telecommunication firm will subsidize the data used by the clientele to watch the games.
