Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company Pledges to Revive Football and Unite the Nation
Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has expressed the company’s eagerness to partner with stakeholders to revamp Nigerian football and instill national pride. This commitment was made during a meeting at the NNPC Towers on Thursday, which brought together a delegation from the National Sports Commission, the International Management Group (IMG), and AfroSport Network.
According to Kyari, NNPCL is ready to collaborate with the sports sector to reinvigorate the nation’s football love and create a thriving industry. He emphasized that the company will work closely with relevant stakeholders to develop and market the game, ensuring its commercial success.
With his company identified as a key partner in this endeavor, Kyari is enthusiastic about the potential benefits of this partnership. “We will be a prime partner in the journey to bring back the value of our football, reshape it, re-engineer it, and bring happiness to our people,” he said.
The CEO believes that football, as a powerful symbol of national identity, can drive growth and prosperity for the economy and the company itself.
Earlier, Minister of Sports, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, commended the company’s interest in football. “Football is fundamental to the economies of the best footballing countries in the world,” he noted, highlighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for urgent action to revamp the game.
The minister also drew attention to the significant multiplier effects of football, which can stimulate the growth of related industries across the value chain, including broadcasting, hospitality, and merchandise.
As part of the efforts to revive Nigerian football, IMG, a prominent organizer of the English Premier League, has been invited as a technical partner to share their expertise.
It is worth remembering that NNPCL once had a football club, the NNPC FC, Warri, which participated in the Division One of the Nigeria National League before being disbanded in 1989.
