TGI, PAYPORTE DEAL WITH NIGERIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION

UYO,Akwa Ibom, Nigeria – In what is clearly another record of performance in the aggressive marketing stance of the Pinnick Amaju –led NFF administration, two corporate organizations signed partnership agreements with the football body in a single day, on Friday. It is a record in the history of Nigerian Football.

Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, an international investment and holding company with diversified interests and investments in Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Morocco, UAE, South Africa, India and several other emerging markets announced a landmark agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to support the Senior National Football Team, Super Eagles, in its quest to win laurels for Nigeria.

At a joint press briefing held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, the NFF unveiled the TGI Group as the Official Food Sponsor of the Super Eagles for the next three years. TGI Group is the parent company of WACOT Limited, Chi Limited and other companies, producers of household brands such as Big Bull Rice, CHIVITA, Hollandia Yoghurt and Renew Starch.

“We are privileged and excited to come on board as supporters of the Nigeria National Football Team,” said Mr. Onyekachi Onubogu, the Executive Director of TGI Group who represented the Group Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Savara. “The sponsorship is a further demonstration of the commitment of our business to the development of Nigeria in all facets.

“We strongly believe in our investments in the Agricultural value chain and its impact on the socio-economic development of Nigeria and this new partnership we are starting with the Nigeria Football Federation will allow us to expand our footprint to the development of football in the country. We are resolutely committed to increasing our investments in the Nigerian economy, increasing employment and local content while supporting the communities we operate in. We hope that with our coming on board, other companies will also see the fact that football is the greatest unifying factor for Nigerians and take the decision to support football and the National Teams.”

He also disclosed that consequent upon the agreement between his company and NFF, the TGI Group will henceforth reward the best Nigerian player with the ‘Man of the Match’ award on the days of all qualifying matches. While emphasizing the unifying role of soccer in Nigeria, Mr. Onubogu stated that the goal of his conglomerate is to ensure that the Super Eagles does not only qualify for the 2018 World Cup but that the team set a new record of performance at the competition in Russia.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, commended the TGI Group for taking the right decision to support Nigerian Football, as football remains the strongest factor that crashes all physical and mental boundaries among Nigerians.

He further disclosed that with the sponsorship by TGI, the Board and Management of NFF are better convinced that the goal of participating and excelling in the 2018 World Cup by the Super Eagles will be a reality.
“The coming on board of the TGI Group is going to be a tremendously exciting development for the team. The opportunity to have the support of TGI Group and the reward for the ‘Man of the Match’ will have a huge benefit. We talk a lot about creating memories, and there is no doubt that working with TGI Group will create some fantastic memories.”

The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Payporte, an international company supporting entertainment (including Big Brother Africa) and sports, Mr. Eyo Bassey, said his organization was “much delighted” to enter into partnership with the football –ruling body as the Official Online Store Partner of the NFF.

“We are very happy to be involved with the Nigeria Football Federation and Nigerian Football. It is a win-win situation for us because Nigeria is a big player in international football and we are also a big player in the market.”

Also present at the event were NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi; 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman Shehu Dikko; Sumit Jain (Chief Financial Officer, TGI); NFF Executive Committee members Sunday Dele-Ajayi and Chidi Ofo Okenwa; LMC CEO Nduka Irabor; Supersport’s Felix Awogu; NFF’s Director of Communications Ademola Olajire; NFF’s Assistant Director (Legal), Barr. Okey Obi; Mr. Charles Igbinidu, Media Adviser to TGI and; Mr. Colin Udoh, Member of NFF Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory Committee.

Friday’s contracts –signing ceremony followed in the steps of landmark partnership agreements with AITEO, Nigeria’s leading energy solutions company for the payment of Coaches’ salaries and the new AITEO Cup competition for men and women, as well as a capacity –building and youth development partnership with ZENITH International Bank PLC.