NLO charges clubs to strengthen media department to gain more visibilities

 

The Nationwide League One (NLO) Chief Operating Officer, Olushola Ogunnowo has charged clubs to have a functional media department with a view to showcasing their brand.

Ogunnowo gave the charge on Tuesday, during a one-day capacity-building workshop organized by the nation's third-tier football league, for Media Officers/Practitioners/Social Media Managers held at the Press Centre of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kano State Chapter.

NLO Media Officer Tunde Shamsudeen, schooled the North West media officer on topics ranging from -Creating compelling and engaging club content for fans and media. Strategies for media relationship management and most importantly Using social media platforms for effective communication.

"The media is crucial to football development, and one of the positives from the workshop is to sensitize the clubs in the north of the need to have capable media managers to showcase the clubs talents to the football market, and also help drive funds to their clubs," said Olushola.

"The NLO doesn't intend to sanction any club without a media manager, rather it intends to encourage clubs to take advantage of the media to effectively use it to promote their talented players to the football market, by way of uploading their match clips on their YouTube Channels and other social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram."

As regards the NLO opening season star game, a Kano Derby between Kano Pillars Jnr and Kwankwansiya FC.

"From what we have gathered since the NLO contingent arrived in Kano on Monday, a cracker is expected as the Sani Abacha Stadium will explode with massive turnout of fans, as both teams have a huge fan base.

"On our part, the NLO have put in place all logistics to ensure a hitch-free game as football is about entertainment."

The workshop which was engaging and rich with contents from Shamsudeen, was largely attended by members of the forth estate of the realm in the Groundnut Pyramid City.

Vice President (North) of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Alhaji Lurwanu Malikawa, and other participants were presented with certificates of participation.

Nationwide League One: A decade of growth, professionalization, opportunities

 

The Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) held a media briefing at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Wednesday April 26, 2023, to update sponsors, corporate organisations, and football stakeholders on its activities over the past decade. 

The theme of the event was "2013-2022: A Decade of Growth," which celebrated the league's achievements over the past 10 years while highlighting its objectives and future plans.

The NLO is Nigeria's third-tier football league and in 2022 (the last year of the decade in question), had 344 clubs spread across the country's six geopolitical zones and the FCT. The league provides young Nigerians with an opportunity to develop their skills and reach their full potential while promoting community, respect, inclusivity, and growth. 

With over 20,000 players, coaches, officials, and over 8,000,000 match-day attendance per season, the NLO represents a significant opportunity for businesses to achieve their objectives.

The NLO's primary objectives are to reposition the league as a key resource base for other local and international leagues, professionalize its operations, and generate interest from corporate organizations. 

To achieve these objectives, the league has adopted a growth strategy anchored on good corporate governance, administration and management reforms, implementation of reforms in its season operations, and activation of strong brand-building initiatives.

According to Olushola Ogunnowo, NLO's Chief Operating Officer, "Our goal is to make NLO the access market for grassroots football in Nigeria and the youth football target market. We aim to produce the highest number of youths participating in the NLO at the grassroots level and continue to strive for and maintain official recognition of the Youth League from FIFA and increased interest from foreign clubs because of our Youth League."

Ms. Nkechi Obi, NLO’s Marketing Consultant over the past decade, emphasized the importance of NLO's success in becoming recognized as the access market for grassroots football in Nigeria. She stated that "NLO Product Consolidation is driven by deliberate brand optimization and value chain development, partnerships, and sustainable community engagement, as well as media activations and content creation." She also stated that full details of NLO’s 2023-2032 Decade of Consolidation will be made public at the Official Unveiling of NLO Partners and Season Activation Plans in May.

From 2023 Season, NLO will have only Two Divisions instead of three with Divisions II and III merged into the Youth League. 

The new NLO will feature 420 Clubs, kicking off on May 3rd with a Season Opening Game to be played at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano and feature Kano Pillars Jnr against Kwankwasiya United FC in what promises to be a cracking game.

The NLO has made significant progress in achieving its objectives over the past decade, with the league becoming the highest exporter of talent to foreign leagues. 

However, the league aims to do more, and with its growth strategy, it intends to professionalize its operations and generate more interest from corporate organizations. 

NLO is committed to its primary objectives and its vision to provide young Nigerians with the opportunity to develop their skills and reach their full potential while promoting community, respect, inclusivity, and growth.

NLO rolls out programmes for 2023 Season kickoff

 

It will be a defining months of activities, starting this week for the Nationwide League One (NLO), as its Secretariat has put all in place for the kickoff of the 2023 season.

The NLO is the nation's third-tier domestic league with more than 300 teams and academics battling it out.

The Secretariat unveiled a two weeks programme that will define the smooth commencement of the season.

According to its Media Channel, the NLO will hold a press briefing on Wednesday 26th April, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere-Lagos where it will address the media of activities lined up for the year and the unveiling of it's new sponsors, the biggest of them a telecommunications giants in May. 

A week later, the 2023 Division One season will kick off with the curtain raiser, a Kano Derby between Kano Pillars Jnr and Kwankwasiya FC at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Wednesday, May 3rd.

On June 7th, the maiden Youth League season kicks off across venues in Nigeria.

The NLO Youth League is a merger of the Division 2 and Division 3, as contained in the five years master plans approved by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The league has an age limit cap of between 16-19, as it's a way to checkmate age cheat.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NLO, Olushola Ogunnowo said: "It has been months of strategic planning by the NLO Secretariat and we are delighted that the season will kick off in less than two weeks. 

"To herald the season, our new sponsors and partners totaling about five or six will be made known to Nigerians in an unveiling in May.

"With all loose ends tightened, we are optimistic for a hitch-free and exciting season of grassroot football."