Sports
A Tale Of The Nigeria Football Fund’s Benefits
The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) is an open-ended Security and Exchange Commission-Registered Unit Trust/Mutual Fund with an initial public offering to raise N5billion through the issuance of 5,000,000,000 units at N1.00 each.
The fund was launched by GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, for the purpose of offering sustainable solutions to the challenges hindering the growth and advancement of football in Nigeria by focusing on sports development.
Biztellers reports that presently, the TNFF is the catalyst energising the transformation of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Recall that the organisation of the NPFL was fraught with several challenges, topmost among them being the issue of poor funding which the TNFF is poised to breathe in a new lease of life into in a sustainable manner.
It is noteworthy that the TNFF also invests in high-quality investment-grade instruments involving equities of quoted companies, money market or fixed-income instruments, and strategic investment in football/sports sector via securitized lending investments in identified short to medium-term “Football Projects.”
The Fund also aims to transform football clubs from socio-political tools to profitable business enterprises and by extension, with the hope of seeing them grow into national assets. This way Nigeria’s football assets would start contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
As noted earlier, TNFF will promote investment culture among participants in the sports industry with an opportunity to earn returns from investment-grade instruments involving equities of quoted companies, sovereign and corporate short/long-term debt obligations and securitized lending investments in identified short to medium-term “Football Projects.”
The multiplier effects of building a “Football Economy” is extremely huge, as an improved football sector will drive a cycle of growth (value-chain effects) across several other sectors like Tourism, Broadcasting, Technology, Gaming, Media, Hospitality, Transportation, Merchandising etc.
The impact of these is expected to manifest in the following areas; increased economic activities, increase in employment opportunities, rise in disposable income, significant contribution to the GDP and a general increase in demand for the products, goods and services produced by Nigerian corporate/manufacturing companies.
The Fund which is currently managed by GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited has the following under-listed objectives.
It will help the government to use football to manage social vices, especially among the teaming idle youths. Most of the youths would be kept busy through sporting activities and will not fancy indulging themselves in criminal activities if left unchecked.
Therefore, an improved football economy could easily enhance national development as the beautiful game in turn becomes an easy tool or a veritable source of revenue for the government.
In addition, the TNFF will help to enhance national savings culture and stimulate the financial inclusion agenda of the federal government.
Those versed in sports business are of the opinion that the TNFF has the potential of deepening Nigeria’s economy, creatively, in the areas of production and distribution of cultural goods to support the football industry for great economic impact.
The positive spill-over effect on the development of the tourism sector can be heartwarming because of its positive impact on hotel occupancy rates, pundits aver.
Aside from enhanced foreign exchange earnings, which the TNFF will bring to the table through foreign television broadcasting rights, infrastructural development; the fund has demonstrated the capacity to convert the interests of mammoth Nigerian fans into commercial success and sustainable growth, development economists opine.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), representing Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, has thrown his weight behind the 2026 Abeokuta 10km Race, assuring that he will personally grace the October 3 event.
He gave the assurance when the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML), Yetunde Olopade, paid him a courtesy visit to formally invite him to the race, which is being held in his honour.
The Senator commended Olopade for taking over the leadership of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, expressing delight at the progress and achievements of the company under her watch.
He described the decision to honour him with the race as a gesture he deeply appreciates, assuring that despite his busy schedule, he would make every effort to be present at the event.
“Let me start by thanking you for taking up the mantle of leadership of the company. I was truly delighted when I learnt that you are the one in charge.
“As for the race, I want to sincerely thank you for organising it in my honour. You have honoured me, and I appreciate the gesture with every sense of responsibility.
“I will do everything humanly possible to be part of it, especially because it is a race held in my honour. I will also be glad to be there to honour you in return,” he assured.
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Olopade presented a running kit to the Senator during the visit, saying that Senator Adeola was being honoured in recognition of his contributions to youth and sports development in Ogun State.
“For everything you have done for youth and sports development, we have come to invite you to support the race. Of course, we also humbly request your presence on the 3rd of October.”
The 2026 Abeokuta 10KM Race is specifically designed for Nigerian athletes, with the organisers aiming to promote homegrown talent, while also creating a lasting legacy.
Registration for the race is still ongoing at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto, Abeokuta, while registered participants are scheduled to collect their race kits from September 30 to October 2 ahead of the October 3 race.
The Abeokuta 10KM Race remains one of the notable road-running events on Nigeria’s athletics calendar and is expected to bring together athletes, sports enthusiasts and other stakeholders for the fifth edition of the race.
Photo Caption: From Left Managing Director, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Yetunde Olopade and Senator Solomon Adeola
Signals have emerged that the International Association Football Federation (FIFA) would back Nigeria’s plan to reform her football administration, in view of which the entire Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi threw in the towel recently.
Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, offered this insight in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday after meeting with FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Switzerland.
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He said the government presented its reform proposals to FIFA after the resignation created a leadership vacuum within the NFF.
“After the resignation of the entire board of the NFF and the General Secretary, naturally we have a lacuna, because there was no provision in the rulebook for situations like that, where we have nobody now to run the NFF legally within the rulebook.”
According to Dikko, the government wants to undertake a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s football structures, with the process involving consultations with stakeholders.
He said, “We told them, this is our position as a government. The government wants to undertake a comprehensive reform of the football structures in Nigeria, which is something that even FIFA knew has been on the cards for decades in Nigeria.
“So we discussed comprehensive proposals from the government, which are the issues that we think should be reformed, based on the concerns of the stakeholders, and we all agreed on that.”
Dikko said FIFA had endorsed both the resignation of the NFF board and the proposed reforms, while stressing that the process must follow the applicable rules.
“In short, FIFA endorsed the resignation, endorsed reform, agreed that the reform must happen, but it has to go through the proper process and the rulebooks, and they are ready to accommodate that,” he asserted.
Manchester City’s trophy-laden era has come under renewed scrutiny after the club was reportedly found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial-rule charges brought against it.
The reported verdict, disclosed by The Athletic on Friday, September 25, relates to alleged breaches covering the period between 2009 and 2018.
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The independent hearing lasted more than two years before the outcome emerged.
However, the case is not yet over, as the Premier League has not announced any sanction and Manchester City are expected to appeal the verdict.
The charges include allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and breached rules relating to payments to players and coaches, as well as financial sustainability requirements.
City have consistently denied the allegations.
The reported verdict could have wider implications for the Premier League because the club has won eight league titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League during the period in which the allegations have been investigated.
Potential sanctions under the league’s rules can include financial penalties and sporting punishments, with points deductions and expulsion among the measures that have been discussed in coverage of the case.
However, no punishment has been confirmed at this stage.
The uncertainty also means questions remain over whether any eventual sanction could affect Manchester City’s past achievements, current squad or future participation in the Premier League.
For now, the reported guilty findings mark a major development in one of English football’s longest-running disciplinary cases, but the final outcome will depend on the sanctioning process and City’s expected appeal.
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