NLO strengthens image branding, visibility as Honourable Agara visits Zagreb to sign pact with SofaScore

 

Poised to take the nation's grassroot football to enviable heights, Chairman of the Nationwide League One, His Excellency Silas Agara arrived in Zagreb, the Croatian capital for a sports business conference. 

On Wednesday 5, June 2024 in Zagreb, the former Nasarawa State Deputy Governor began his trip, as a guest at the headquarters of Sofascore, where he met Zlatko Hrkać (the co-founders of Sofascore) and other top executives Marta Bihar, Toni Jermaniš and Filip Vrlec.

From there Agara was at Hotel Falkensteiner & SPA Iadera located on the Adriatic Coast of Croatia, for his first event, which was to network with all the partnership clubs of Sofascore across the world. 

Next on his trip, the NLO boss will attend a two-day Sunset Sports Media Festival beginning from Thursday to Friday. 

While speaking from Zagreb with the NLO Media Channel, a delighted Agara said. 

"Football in Nigeria has over the years been in high demand, looking at the quality that makes it to Europe and other parts of the world. More so there are a lot of on-tapped talents everywhere, thus making the Nationwide League One the best platform that can create a career pathway for many of these talents. 

"We are delighted that the NLO now has  international interest amongst fans and corporate brands, this development in the long run can help our grassroot football realise its enormous potential. 

"Our first season with Sofascore has been a rewarding one, as it has provided an opportunity for more fan engagements, by way of comments, predicting the scoreline of matches and also seeing minute-by-minute live scores of their teams pop up on their devices by way of notifications once they have the app."

NLO unveils three technical partners to accelerate growth, development

 

The Nationwide League One (NLO) on Thursday announced its technical partners in Abuja, to drive referral revenue, generate quality leads, and accelerate growth in Nigeria’s third-tier domestic football division.

The Chairman of NLO, His Excellency Silas Agara, named three technical partners: Sofascore, SportsMeetTech, and Naemosports. 

Sofascore, a Croatian sports-tracking platform with over 25 million active monthly users worldwide, has partnered with NLO to assist in bringing on board all other leagues in Nigeria. This partnership is not based on any monetary value but on shared benefits in developing the league. 

SportsMeetTech, an IT firm, will develop a website and social media channels for all NLO clubs. They will also train club officials on how to manage the sites and commercialize them to generate funds to support their clubs. The revenue will be shared between NLO, clubs, and SMT.

Naemosports, a data company, will facilitate talent discovery with the use of technology. They will access NLO’s data, and the benefits will be on revenue sharing when the data are sold. NLO has a device to monitor what they do with the data.

New Year Mega Lottery splashes #964 million sponsorship on NLO

The Nationwide League One has announced a deal worth a staggering sum of N964 million as a sponsorship deal with New Year Mega Lottery. 

This sponsorship will make New Year Mega Lottery the official Title Sponsor of the third-tier domestic football league in Nigeria for the next four seasons.

The NLO signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with New Year Mega Lottery at a special signing and unveiling event held at the Harris Hotel, Wuye in Abuja on Thursday, March 14th, in Abuja.

The announcement was made by the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State now NLO Chairman, His Excellency Silas Agara, during the unveiling of New Year Mega Lottery to the media.

Agara provided a detailed breakdown of the sponsorship deal, stating that the Nigerian licensed lottery company will provide an annual payment of 241 Million Naira in cash and value in kind, totalling a sum of #964,000,000 Naira for the four seasons of the sponsorship deal.

"New Year Mega Lottery is a Nigerian firm and lottery company licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission; they will be our Title Sponsor for the NLO. 

"The sponsorship deal will run for four seasons and of Two Hundred And Forty-One Million Naira (N241, 000, 000) annually (both Cash and Value in kind). With the annual payment totalling the sum of N964, 000, 000, 00 (Nine Hundred And Sixty-Four Million Naira).

“This sponsorship recognises NLO not just as a football body but also acknowledges our position as the league with the single-biggest football talent base in Africa.”

The collaboration between the Nationwide League One and New Year Mega Lottery is intended to effectively promote and elevate the status of grassroots football in the country, aiming to establish it as a prominent Nigerian spectacle and one of the most flourishing and appealing leagues on the continent.

In her address during the epoch-making occasion the representative of New Year Mega Lottery, Ms. Obiorah Emmanuella, Head of Corporate Communications, said it was the firm passion for football and humanitarian commitments that have compelled them to sponsor the NLO.

She also canvassed for the support of other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure grassroots football continues to flourish.

She said: “We are thrilled to enter this sponsorship deal with the Nationwide League One (NLO) and engage a large audience through our brand. It is for the love of soccer and a prioritized social responsibility in line with our humanitarian commitments, that prompted us to sponsor the NLO.

“Through this collaboration, we are also excited to connect with the future generation of football athletes at the grassroots level across Nigeria and help them grow. The company’s strong commitment to nurturing and empowering talents, fostering opportunities, and gratifying fans within its market are among the primary motivations for aligning with the NLO.

“I want to use this medium to urge other well-meaning Nigerians to get involved in the development of these laudable sports to enable the country to attain its expected height in world football,” she said.

By sponsoring the NLO until 2027, New Year Mega Lottery is building on its rich history as a frontline provider of job creation and empowerment through sports and education in Nigeria.

NLO seals multi-million naira sponsorship deal

 

The Nationwide League One (NLO) is set to seal it biggest sponsorship deal worth multi-million naira and also announce partnership with two foreign service providers. 

The sponsorship deal which will run for four (4) years, is record-breaking and a breakthrough for grassroot football development in Nigeria. 

NLO Chairman and ex-Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State His Excellency Silas Agara, shared more light on the deal.

"We are happy with the several brands that has shown interest in the NLO in the last few months, as we want the NLO to grow to become a global phenomenon as the most successful grassroot football league across Africa, as challenged by NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau 

"One of our partners, is a lottery company licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission; they will be NLO Title Sponsors. We have agreed on a four year sponsorship deal. And we shall unveil them on Thursday March 14, 2024.

Twenty-four hours later, precisely Friday March 15, the NLO will unveil four of its prospective partners. 

"One of them is a service provider- a Croatian based sports tracking platform with over 25 million active monthly users worldwide. This is very good for our clubs. They have also mandated the NLO to assist them in bringing on board other leagues in Nigeria.

"No monetary value involved, but on share benefits on developing our league, and we have agreed to work with them.

However, there is another IT firm that has accepted to develop websites for all the NLO clubs, they will as well open social media channels for all the clubs as well.

"They will train club officials on how to manage the sites and then commercialize the website and the social media handles to enable the clubs generate funds to support their clubs.

"The NLO sees this as a good avenue for club development and another source of revenue stream for the clubs in NLO."

Honourable Silas Agara hinted further, 

"Two other technical partners will join the NLO, as they will help to facilitate talent discovery with the use of technology. 

"The nation's third-tier domestic football league sees them as Development Partner and we have agreed to allow them access to our data. The benefits to NLO is on revenue sharing when the data are being sold, we have a device to monitor what they do with our data."

In a separate development, to expand it's reach to a larger audience and passionate followers of the league, the NLO has lunched it's two (2) channels on Blend TV.

NLO announces MTN as headline sponsor of inaugural cup tournament

The Nationwide League One (NLO) is proud to announce top telecommunications brand in Nigeria, MTN as the headline sponsor of the NLO Cup.

Sixteen best teams will ignite the maiden edition of the NLO Cup which kicks off on November 24 to December 9 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano and Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo.

Chairman of the nation's third-tier league His Excellency. Silas Agara announced the groundbreaking development to NLO Media Channel on Monday.

"On behalf of the leadership of the NLO, we are delighted to announce MTN as the headline sponsor of the NLO Cup. 

"The NLO Cup tourney was conceived as a medium to celebrate teams that have excelled in the graduation from the State League to NLO U19 and from the Youth League to the NLO Division One.

"The credibility of the NLO over time has made MTN pitch their tent to the nation's third-tier domestic league for this project. The project is a success of this partnership in a discussion of over two years, with NLO and MTN to have come to this stage.

"MTN as a responsible corporate organization wants to support Nigerian youths through grassroot football development, as they have identified football as the major source of joy for over 60 percent of the youths.

"The telecommunications brand has identified the Nationwide League One  (NLO) as the most critical source and reliable partner to achieve that aim; at the same time.

"MTN will be using the NLO to push their MoMo Money to the minds of all Nigerian youths as a safe platform, to save, do business with their money, and a whole lot of things.

"They will also be dishing out a whole lot of freebies and gift items,  to youths that hit the stadium to watch the NLO Cup matches. The telecommunications brand wants to rejuvenate the way Nigerian youths participate in football.

#MTNNLOCup23

NLO secures FirstCentral Credit Bureau sponsorship deal

The Nationwide League One (NLO) has sealed a sponsorship deal with FirstCentral Credit Bureau.

FirstCentral Credit Bureau Limited, Nigeria’s only independent and first licensed credit bureau will bankroll the NLO Cup and the nation's third-tier domestic league's Annual General Meeting (AGM) to herald the 2024/25 season kickoff.

Chairman of the nation's third-tier league Hon. Silas Agara announced the breakthrough during a press conference held at the NLO Secretariat Board Room in Abuja.

A delighted Agara, says the various reforms the new Board has put in place, have started yielding positive gains and have made the NLO a more attractive brand for corporate Nigeria.

This is evident with the new sponsorship deal between the NLO and FirstCentral Credit Bureau.

The sponsorship will cover the Nationwide League One- NLO Cup which is billed to kick off in Kano and Uyo on November 24th and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) billed for December 8, to set the pace for the 2024/25 season kickoff.

Hon. Agara, a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State told NLO Media Channel, "We are delighted to have the FirstCentral Credit Bureau come on board as one of our sponsors.

"I believe the various reforms that the new board is proposing to the AGM will yield positive gains and make the NLO a more attractive brand to Corporate Nigeria. The reforms are yet to be approved, but due to positive activities from the NLO Secretariat, we have been seeing positive changes. 

"You will agree with me that the Nationwide League One with over 300 clubs making it the largest in Africa, is a viable brand for corporate organization in Nigeria, this has brought about our relationship with First Central Credit Bureau. 

"Football in Nigeria is massive and an incredible unifier that connects people from all walks of life, as grassroot football is watched daily. It's on record that 70% of NLO Division One and U-19 Youth League matches were live-streamed via the NLO TV App.

The leadership of the NLO has also shown commitment to the growth of grassroot football which has seen a massive increase in the number of participating teams in the NLO from 80 clubs to over 300 clubs cutting across all 36 States of the Federation and FCT, due to our financial prudence with the little resources available. 

"The Board can confidently assure Nigerians that with support from top brands such as First Central Credit Bureau, Nigerians will see more positive service delivery from the NLO.

"So, FirstCentral Credit Bureau will leverage our platform by sponsoring the inaugural NLO Cup and also take care of the bills for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) billed for Friday, December 8, 2023."

First Central Credit Bureau is a credit score is a statistical number that evaluates a consumer’s creditworthiness and is based on the individual’s credit history. It is an instant decision-making tool that helps to reduce the time and cost associated with processing and underwriting credit applications.

This medium reaches the customer directly and educates them on the impact of late/non-repayment of their loans hence improving repayment without breaching the privacy law.

Ogunnowo announces September 5 as NLO Super Cup kickoff date, explains modalities

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nationwide League One, Olushola Ogunnowo has announced Tuesday September 5 through Saturday September 16, 2023 as the kick-off date for the NLO Youth League Super Cup, as he  revealed that there would be two wild card teams that will also take part in the competition with more clarifications in the coming days. 

"We are looking to commence it from 5th to 16th September. It is a full 10 days of football activities. The competition will boost the economy of Imo State because 18 football clubs and about 30 match delegates among others will be in the state by then."

Ogunnowo, further explained modalities for the Youth League Super Cup, as he assured that foreign scouts, members of the Technical Department of the NFF, and some national team coaches would storm Owerri to discover talents. 

He acknowledged the adulation from Nigerians and overseas for the NLO conduct of the Youth League and further itemized reasons for the Super Cup while also adding that different steps including live stream of all games have been concluded to ensure the NLO continue to have its rave review and tractions.

"This is going to be the first of its kind in the history of youth football in Nigeria. The NLO decided to take the bull by the horns to start a Youth League in the country," Ogunnowo said why fielding questions from journalists after the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation.

"We have received so many applause both within and outside the country. We decided it was not best for the teams to just play the league and stop there. The 18 teams that will take part and additional two wild cards have already been promoted to NLO but we want to come up with a championship whereby we can come up with a single winner for the Youth League in the country. 

"The tournament will be keenly contested and we have invited foreign scouts to be part of what we are doing. We are inviting close to eight sporting directors from different leagues across the world to come and see our talents from the Youth League. 

"Nigeria Football Federation Technical Department will be on ground while notable coaches in the country will also be around to see the best that can be showcased from the NLO. 

"The NLO is the only league that has a broadcasting department because we stream live most of our matches. We streamed live over 144 matches in the just concluded NLO Division 1. In the NLO Division 2 (Youth League), we streamed live close to 200 matches. All the matches to be played during the championship will be live streamed to be watched in all parts of the world."

NLO signs pact with Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation to float Youth League Super Cup

 

Nigeria Nationwide League One has successfully signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation led by its Founder/ President High Chief Summers Nwokie towards staging the maiden edition of NLO Youth League Super Cup Championship in Owerri, Imo State.

Both put pen on the MoU on Friday at the corporate office of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation in the presence of NLO top brass, His Excellency, Silas Agara, Chief Operating Officer, Olushola Ogunnowo, officials of Imo Football Association, Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation and journalists.

In his welcome address during the epoch making occasion the Founder/ President, Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation, High Chief Summers Nwokie said it was his passion for football and humanitarian commitments that has compelled him to sponsor the NLO Super Cup Championship and it was borne out of the success story of his pet club, Ikukuoma FC of Mbaise, Imo State. 

The grassroots football philanthropist gave an account of what he has done to advance the cause of grassroot football including sponsorship of notable competitions within Mbaise and Owerri zone and he also canvassed for the support of other well meaning Nigerians to ensure grassroot football continue to flourish.

"It is for the love of soccer and a prioritized social responsibility in line with my humanitarian commitments, that prompted my resolve to sponsor the NLO Super Cup billed for early September.

"The enviable success of my pet football club, Ikukuoma FC at the just concluded Nationwide League One Under 19 Youth League held in Awka, Anambra State has energized and boosted my commitment to grassroots football with 80 percent of the players in my team products of my tournament (Ikukuoma Mbaise Unity Cup Tournament and Secondary Schools Football Competition).

"I want to use this medium to urge other well meaning Nigerians to get involved in the development of these laudable sports so as to enable the country to attain its expected height in world football," High Chief Nwokie said.

In his own opening remarks, NLO Chief Agara described Imo State as his second home, as he commended High Chief Summers Nwokie for his giant strides in grassroot football and added that the NLO's doors are wide open for collaborations with people like the President of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation to help take the league to greater height. 

The former Deputy Governor, Nasarawa State opined that the new watchword of the NLO is to ensure that players from grassroots clubs in the Nigeria Nationwide League form the bedrock of the national youth teams in the near future and that different steps have been taken to ensure the NLO has a more professional approach.

"Imo State is like a home coming. It is my second home and I feel proud to identify with people from Imo State," Agara began. 

"I stand boldly on behalf of the Nigeria Nationwide League One to identify with my brother High Chief Summers Nwokie who has taken this bold step to partner with the NLO and also to put smiles on the faces of our young footballers from all the parts of Nigeria. It is what we expect from those God has blessed so that they can open the doors for others. 

"Sports is a big industry and it can accommodate the teeming Nigerian youths by deeply engaging them in a meaningful way that they can add to that development. 

"High Chief Summers Nwokie has honoured the NLO and I wish to honour him in the same manner. When I see someone that is into grassroot sports I have a passion to relate with such a person. 

"Our passion in the NLO is to make sure that the crop of the national youth team players come from the grassroots clubs. Clubs that are from the NLO. 

"If we can get it right in the NLO, then we can begin to change the way the NNL and NPFL clubs are run. NLO is happy to partner and open a new chapter with you. The MoU we have signed we go a long way to show what we can do together for football."

Agara further tasked Imo State to take her place of pride in the South East and he challenged the President of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation to help with the rebirth of grassroots football in the South East for the good of the game.

"Imo is the home of football. Football is not new to Imo State. The state has produced great national players for Nigeria. It is time to go back to the old days where those players emerged from grassroots clubs. I believe Imo can take her rightful position in the South East with the likes of High Chief Summers Nwokie," Agara continued.

"I want to challenge High Chief Nwokie to change the face of grassroot football in the South East if others that God has blessed can't do it. He should do it. A token sent to other states in the South East can help to change its face in the zone. NLO will be willing to support you and bring the weight of the NFF behind you."

Silas Agara stresses need for robust synergy with media to attract sponsors for NLO

 

Former Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Silas Agara has stressed the need for the Nationwide League One to have a good synergy with the media, as it bids to getting brands attention by way of sponsorships. 

Agara, who leads the newly constituted Board of the nation's third-tier domestic football league in his first official interaction with NLO Media Channel talked about his Board's plans.

"Its an opportunity to serve, I’m always available when my services is needed. This is a call to duty, provide leadership to our teeming youths, with Board Members cut across the six geo-political zones. We met once as a board, immediately after the inauguration and set agendas for ourselves. 

"We hope to meet in the next few days to review the entire structure of the Nationwide League One. We are quite aware of the challenges on ground, they’re surmountable. Luckily, we have persons that are knowledgeable in the league, who are proprietors of some of the clubs and are members of the board. With their worth of experience and that of the two State Football Association (State FA) Chairmen on the Board, it's certain we can make a headway.

"This a league that has over 300 clubs, a platform where you have young Nigerians with the age bracket of 14 to 19-years-old, plying their trade and looking for opportunities to get exposed. The challenges are there, however too early to make public our plans as we have just been inaugurated but I can assure you that there is going to be a change of direction."

"We want to have a good synergy with the media, as that’s the best way we can showcase the NLO. We can do this by getting the right reportage and off course brands that will sponsor the league. Without the right media coverage of NLO activities to a global audience, sponsorship won’t come.

"We need the media to reach out to these top brands, and off course intending sponsors have to rely on the good reportage of the league and not negative ones, for them to make critical decisions. If we don't have that understanding with the media, we can't fly our kite regarding sponsorship. We also need to woo the media and bring our plans to the league on the table for them to see and help us reach out to Nigerians.

"The need to getting our officiating right is also another key area we want to look into. Once we have officiating in the league professionally done, with match officials well catered for and not left at the mercies of clubs, footing the bills, this will bring some level of sanity to the league.

"We’re also looking at the home and away match format, and the different ones for the league, to see how we can reduce the burden for the clubs, as many are not making profits yet. At the moment, I will plead with Nigerians to give the new NLO Board a few time, with the assurance that in the next week's, we should be able to take proper stock of what is on ground, know the reforms to introduce and above all get the right sponsors for the league.

I'm delighted with what I have seen on ground, the Chief Operating Officer (Olushola Ogunnowo) has done well for the league and now he has got a Board that will support him."

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On plans for next season's NLO Youth League: "We are monitoring events at this edition and surely will proffer solutions to the loopholes from what we have seen from the maiden edition. The Board, really has no much time as our tenure is for two years, however, since we have been given the marching order by the NFF, our job is to address issues and improve on what's on ground."