SAN FRANCISCO, October 07, (THEWILL) – The National Sports Commission (NSC) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with International Management Group (IMG) USA and Premier Sports & entertainment company in Nigeria for basketball development.
The signing of the MOU was held at the National Stadium with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) in Abuja.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MOU was signed between International Management Group Worldwide, Inc and Premier Sports & Entertainment Company for the development of basketball in Nigeria.
The Chairman of NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi said the essence of the MOU was to bring a strong business perspective to the development of sports in Nigeria.
He said IMG was a global brand that is into the business of developing sports into a multi-billion investment.
According to him, with the signing of the MOU in respect to basketball in Nigeria it would create an opportunity for financial viability in attracting sponsors into the game.
“Everybody knows IMG is a strong marketing company, it is a global brand that have existed for almost five decade, they are in the business of developing and marketing sports and they have done it for cricket in India which has turn into a multi-billion dollar investment.
“So bringing IMG to the Nigeria sports market will help the development of sports and signing the MOU as we have done today in respect of basketball will create a great opportunity for the financial viability of the sports in Nigeria by attracting great sponsorship into the sports,”
The Chairman stated that starting with basketball was a trial adding that other sports would be included when it succeed.
He further stated that in the nearest future funding of sports by the government would be withdrawn for the private sector to take over effectively.
“So we believe that it is going to be a test case from basketball, they can move to other sports, so the idea is, in the nearest future we will begin to see the opportunity for Nigeria government to begin to withdraw gradually from funding of sports into what the private sector can effectively drive as it is seen in other countries of the world,”
The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Tijjani Umar said it was a new window of resources and inflow to the federation.
According to him, the companies would help in creating value with additional sponsors to basketball in Nigeria by introducing basketball super league with world class standard.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday said that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved funds for a large contingent of Nigerian fans to attend the qualifying match against Ethiopia.
The minister told newsmen in Abuja that the president also expressed his readiness to support efforts to ensure a successful outing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles will on Oct. 13 face Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes in a first-leg match in the Brazil 2014 final qualification round.
“I am delighted to say that Mr President has given us his full support.
“He has approved funds for the NFA to ensure that large contingents of Nigerian fans are taken to Ethiopia for the game.
“Everyone who witnessed AFCON 2013 knows how vociferous Ethiopian fans could be; so, we are responding appropriately to ensure that large contingents of Nigerian supporters are represented.
“As Mr President has approved financial support for this, we are doing everything possible to ensure that we come back from Ethiopia with a very good result,” he said
Bolaji said that preparations for the match were ongoing and expressed the hope that it would be a great match.
“The preparation is going on very well, I speak everyday with officials of the Football Association and everything is going on well,” he added.
NAN.
