Bitnob, a company on a mission to redefine how financial services are built and delivered leveraging the bitcoin network, has signed a multi-year partnership with the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), managed by the League Management Company (LMC) as an Elite sponsor, making it the exclusive Fintech partner for the league.

Bernard Parah, the CEO of Bitnob said the partnership is a vehicle to reach the people who need their solutions in business and wealth creation and at the same time provide the company the opportunity to contribute to the development of the domestic league which is a national asset.

According to Parah, “this partnership takes us to the people that need our solutions and helps us work with the NPFL to develop our league for more possibilities. Bitcoin, just like football, is about hope, oneness, and freedom, and at Bitnob, we are excited to be making this happen to inspire hope and showcase possibilities in our own league. If we don’t believe in what is ours, then who will?”.
Bitnob has established itself as a trailblazer and a company that sits at the cutting edge of leveraging bitcoin to solve everyday problems. On her website, Bitnob says one of its core values is crazy, and that means they think limitless, break barriers and do the impossible. With this partnership, Bitnob further strengthens this core belief by going where no one else in their industry has gone. 

After signing the contract, Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko described the partnership as a marriage of football and technology which is critical to the next phase of global football.

“We are excited to see young minds choosing to invest in the growth and development of our domestic league. Football is a major passion point in the country, and we believe that the marriage of football and technology is critical to the next phase of football in our nation,” says Dikko.

In 2021, Bitnob achieved some groundbreaking feats, such as pioneering in Africa the lightning network, a layer 2 bitcoin protocol that enables instant and almost free bitcoin transactions for everyday monetary exchange.

Also, Bitnob was the first company in the world, partnering with Bitwage, to process the world’s first bitcoin payroll on Lightning and was the only African Bitcoin native company to appear at the largest Bitcoin summit in the world in Miami earlier this year.

The unveiling ceremony which held at the luxury Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja was graced by Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Davidson Owumi, CEO of LMC, Salihu Abubakar, COO of LMC, Danladi Isaac, Chairman of NPFL Club Owners Association and Harry Iwuala, LMC Head of Special Projects.

The Bitnob team included Adenale Osideinde, the COO, Isioma Onyegikei, Head of Customer Experience, Abubakar Nur Khalil, Recursive Capital, an investor in Bitnob.

The announcement was made by the Chairman of the LMC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, in a Press Conference held at the corporate head office of the league body in the country’s capital City, Abuja.

Among those present at the event was the country Director of Laliga, Desmond Chiji, the Honourable Commissioner for Sports in Enugu State, Manfred Nzekwe, NFF Deputy Director of technical, coach Paul Aigbogun and ex Nigerian international, Garba Lawal.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the LMC said: “The 2021 version of the NPFL Laliga U-15 Promises Youth League is dear to us; it has been very successful over the years, and we have to thank Laliga for giving us the ideas and support to get this going over the years, said Dikko.”

“It is time to get boys to come and play, after the disruption of last year’s edition as a result of the emergence of COVID-19.”

“So far, we’ve done the usual coaches training online and this project has sent over 500 coaches across the NPFL and the grassroot sector of Nigerian football, and as at today, every club in the top flight has a player or two that has passed through this project in the last few years.”

“We’re also doing this programme to unveil Enugu State Government. We thank the Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for being magnanimous enough to see the vision of this project.”

“This time, Government of Enugu State will host all the participants for the duration of the entire competition. We also thank the Honourable Commissioner for Sports for his efforts in making things work.”

While thanking the League Management Company and Enugu State Government, the Laliga country Director, Desmond Chiji said: “Our commitment towards the NPFL has always been the same and the development of football in the country remains our priority, that’s why we’ll keep supporting the growth of the game in anyway we know how.

“Football speaks a lot of languages, Laliga speaks more than language and that is the message we preach through our logos. We want to speak the local language; we want to be part of what is happening in Nigeria.

The Honourable Commissioner while conveying the message of his Governor, maintained that Enugu State is the safest Haven for youth developmental programmes such as the NPFL/Laliga U-15 Youth League.

“The Governor has assured that Enugu State will host this year’s edition of the programme and everything has been put in place for a successful hosting.

“We’re also assuring you that the state being the capital of South Eastern states is one of the safest in terms of security of lives and property.

This year’s edition of the NPFL/Laliga U-15 Promises Youth League will hold between 14th and 28th  of April 2021 with Katsina United FC U-15 side as the defending Champions.

The Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria ( Club Owners) have sent a strong Delegation to Ehime Mbano in Imo state as the Executive Secretary of the Association Alloy Chukwuemeka is to be honoured with a Chieftaincy title by his community.

The ceremony is billed to hold on Friday 9th April 2021 by 11 am at the palace of His Royal Highness Eze C.U Okoro Aku 1 of Umualumaku community.

The club Owners Delegation is to be led by the chairman of the Association and Nasarawa United FC boss Barr. Isaac Danladi, others include Enyimba boss Felix Anyansi Agwu, Pastor Emeka Inyama, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwudi, Prince Davidson Owumi, Chukwuma Ubah, Chief Okey Kpalukwu, Elder Paul Bassey, Kumbi Titiloye, and other NPFL and NNL club chairmen. 

LMC boss and 2nd vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF Malam Shehu Dikko will lead other NFF chieftains, Congress members and LMC directors to the event. 

Other Dignitaries include the Nigeria Pillar of Sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, ABS FC boss Mr Seni Saraki and a host of others.

Meanwhile, an advance team of the planning committee led by the National Coordinator of the club Owners Association of Nigeria and sporting Director of Enyimba FC Jude Anyadufu, alongside Former commissioner for Youths Gombe state Malam Farouk Yarma, former chairman of Heartland FC Goodfaith Etuemena and General Manager of Kwara United Malam Bashir Badawiy are set to be on ground in Owerri. 

The much awaited principal cup finally got underway on Friday as Igbobi college and and Government College Kaduna raised the curtain on the competition in a grand style at the Agege stadium, Lagos.

According to the Minister of youth and sports development Mr. Sunday Dare who is the brain behind the revival of the principal cup “it’s a dream come true to be here today, to watch young stars kick off the National Principal cup. We are so proud of what they’ve done today. It is my hope that young talents will be discovered from this principal cup to become the likes of Daniel Amokachi , Franklin Howard, Tajudeen Disu, Waidi Akanni who are here as a source of inspiration to these young stars.”

He further said “The
Principal’s cup brought friendship and fostered unity, therefore we want to bring back its lost glory. Some products of the Principal’s cup include Segun Odegbami ,Daniel Amokachi, Henry Nwosu, Tajudeen Disu , Ali jeje who became notable internationals.”

While reiterating his Vision, he said “Part of my vision when I assumed office is talents discovery . I will be glad if talents discovered here can become world stars like The Amokachis, Ekejia, Odegbamis, Adokiyes of this world.”

Notable dignitaries who graced the occasion include Deputy Governor of Edo state; Comrade Phillip Shaibu, Honourable Minister of State for Education Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, NFF Vice presidents Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, Shehu Dikko, Daniel Amokachi, President of Nigerian Olympic Committee and a host of others.

The Minister concluded by saying “The principal cup has come to stay.
The students must combine football with education , they should emulate ex internationals who combined education with football like Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amiesimaka, Dr Felix Owolabi, Patrick Ekeji, Seyi Olofinjana and others”.

Signed

Media office of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development

The League Management Company (LMC) has confirmed December 27 as the commencement date for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2020/2021 season.

The league organiser said the commencement date was arrived at after consultations with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the participating football clubs of the NPFL and Redstrike Media Group UK, the NPFL commercial rights holders and strategic commercial partners of the LMC.  

The Federal Government through the Federal Minister of Youth and Sports Development was also  briefed in this regard which included steps to be taken to ensure full compliance with the mandatory COVID-19 Protocols.

LMC said that the absolute need to ensure appropriate compliance with the clubs licensing regulations among other regulatory requirements resulted in the delay in commencing the league as envisaged. 

However, the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko said huge progress has been made especially in the areas of the infrastructure upgrade, noting that the  support of the NFF and the Minister of Youth and Sport Development has been critical in attaining this level of compliance. 

He further stated that, “In line with the core objectives of the LMC-Redstrike partnership, which is to repackage and reposition the NPFL as one of the best football leagues on all parameters, Redstrike Group has engaged a reputable and experienced production company from Europe, which will deploy state of the art facilities and other equipment for the television production of matches and activities of the NPFL to meet world class standards. 

He added that the production company will be working with other domestic agencies that has capacity to deliver media contents of NPFL activities. 

“This will enable the NPFL, in line with the best international benchmarks, to have full control of its content to be distributed, marketed and monetized across all platforms such as OTT, Mobile, Free to Air and Cable TV to ensure the widest coverage that can generate appropriate revenues to the NPFL”.

“The detailed and impressive production preparations have seen the assembling and engagement of very many Nigerians, technicians and other highly skilled football industry professionals”

“These  preparations include the development of the NPFL.TV App, an OTT platform/channel for streaming the NPFL matches, which will also house all the apps of the individual NPFL clubs and provide the best possible fan engagement among others”. 

The NPFL.TV app have since been made available for download on Google Play Store and will soon be on Apple Store. 

In a related development, participating clubs of NPFL have been assured of a robust  revenue distribution with the minimum guaranteed revenue/payment from the LMC-Redstrike Partnership to ensure commercial stability, operations, sustainability and success of the league. 

The LMC Chairman noted that the partnership “will also guarantee other stakeholders of NPFL, including match officials and services providers of a much improved and, or sustained indemnity and professional remuneration as part of the measures to improve standards across the football league industry value chain”. 

Continuing, Dikko declared that “on  the back of the LMC-Redstrike partnership, the NPFL will now see the return of performance incentive payments to NPFL participating clubs such as, Basic Award (Guaranteed payments for participation), Technical/Performance Award (payments earned based on milestones achieved by clubs), Merit Award (Prize Monies distributed to clubs based on final position on the league table at the end of season) and Parachute Payments (to support clubs relegated from the NPFL in the previous season)”.

This season, the LMC has proposed Prize monies for the top three finishing positions for the 2020/2021 season as N75m for the Winner, N50m for the first Runner Up and N35m for the Third paced team. Other Clubs will also earn prize monies based on final position on the league table.

The LMC says other programs and branding strategies to increase the excitement value of the league will be unveiled in due course. These includes, the return of bonuses to clubs for Away Wins, Away Draws, getting more than 5000 fans for home matches, featuring U-18 Youth Players, Stadium maintenance support etc.

“There’s no doubt that exciting times lie ahead for all football lovers in Nigeria who have long yearned to have matches and activities of NPFL made readily available to them by streaming and broadcast on other platforms, including traditional TV”, Dikko remarked.

He said the LMC is assuring millions of football fans in Nigeria that their patience will very soon be rewarded with a repackaged NPFL, whose exciting football matches and activities they can view and follow anytime and anywhere on the NPFL.TV Platform

History will continue to bear witness that the Nigeria Professional Football league, is 30 years today Tuesday, 12 May 2020.

On this day 12th May 1990 the status of the Nigeria elite domestic league as well as its elite players transformed from amateurs to professionals in order to compete with other advanced professionals Football leagues across the globe.

The then Nigeria Football Association NFA now NFF put the administration and supervision of the league under a department called the pro- league department headed by a HOD..

The emergence of the professional Football league boosted the ego of both the players and coaches as well as raised the standard and status of the administrators at the League office and at the clubs levels.

Most of the Administrators were eager to learn new things in terms of general administration, technical, marketing and professional standard of managing the league and the clubsides.

There were administrative, technical courses, workshops and seminars put in place by the Football Association even in conjunction with other advanced leagues abroad to train its officials.

The respective government Owners of clubs, Companies and individual club proprietors also maximized the advantage of the professional status of the league to raised the standard of their stadiums, remuneration, kits, souvenirs and courting the big names amongst the Footballers which hitherto raised the level of competitiveness in the league.

The pioneer clubs were the now defunct Lagos ACB, BCC Lions, Bendel Insurance, Bendel United (now defunct) and Enyimba.

Others were Highlanders of Jos, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, JIB, Kano Pillars, Obanta United (later VIP), Ranchers, Enugu Rangers and Stationery Stores.

An attempt to have one of the pioneer clubs pitched against the Crystal Palace of England, as a symbolical kick off of professional league failed.

After years of prolonged debates, the professional league finally kicked off with a Super Stores versus Iwuanyanwu Nationale opener at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

The Owerri-based Iwuanyanwu, now renamed Heartland, dictated the pace of the away tie, winning 2-1. They kept their form and the pace until the season ended, winning the inaugural championship.

History will continue to remember notable club Owners like Chief Lekan Salami, Chief MKO Abiola, Isreal Adebanjo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Daniel Idama, Chief Jude Ezechukwu Jasper, John Mastoroudes, Chief Oscar Udoji, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma Gabros and most recently Olusola Adekanola, Ambassador Chris Giwa, Senator Patrick Ifeanyiubah, Dr. ABS Saraki , Kunle Soname amongst several others

The league has produced notable players, Referees, coaches and even some league Writers alike

Notable Referees include Allah Dey, Bolaji Okubule, Linus Mba, Emmanuel Obafemi, Joro Dogo Yabilsu (late). Late Edozie Enemuo and several others .

There are also some prominent and distinguished club Administrators like Elder Bode Oyewole, Eze A.D Okafor , Hon Sabo Babayaro, Felix Anyansi Agwu, Davidson Owumi, Kabir Baita, Suleiman David , Dominic Iorfa, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Isaac Danladi ,Mike Idoko and others.

Some notable players like Ishaya Jatau, Authur Moses, Mohammad Manga, Garba Lawal, Ahmed Musa, (Emeka Nwanna Ayaya, the first player to attract 1m naira transfer fee ), Victor Ezeji, Jude Aneke, Chijioke Ejiogu, Joatex Frimpong, Mfon Udoh and host of others.

Also the League has produced some prominent coaches which include
Kadiri Ikhana, Kelechi Emeteole, Philip Boamah, Okey Emordi , Dele Bamidele, Abdulahi Bebe, Kafaru Alabi, Godwin Uwua, Solomon Ogbeide, Alphonsus Dike, Stanley Eguma and many others.

Notable amongst the Sports journalists include Washington Tamaklow (Nigeria Tribune), Bright Oyelade, Vincent Alumona, , Banji Ola, Bayour Issah, Jack Moses Ekwe Ekwe , Emma Jemegah, Tunde Oyedele, Waheed Jinadu, Gbenga Ayeni, Quasim Elegbede and so many others

So far the league has striven well against all odds considering the achievements it had garnered in terms of more standard stadiums across the country, players exports to the best leagues abroad and to the National teams, Enyimba FC back to back victory in the CAF champions league, standard rulebook, introduction of youth teams in clubs structure, international training programmes for coaches and administrators, international recognition and partnership with other leagues of the world as well as exposure of our league to satellite television and modern media platforms.

History will again bear witness that Enyimba international FC under the leadership of chief Felix Anyansi Agwu ( The most successful Football Administrator in Nigeria) had been the most successful club , winning the professional league eight times. They are followed by the crowd-pulling Kano Pillars who won four times while Rangers international FC Enugu have not tested relegation

Going forward the Nigeria professional Football League under different administrations have witnessed a lot of reforms in its efforts at competing favourably with other advanced leagues of the world.

However, the league has also witnessed several challenges like poor officiating but kudos to the leadership of the NFF Referees committee led by Alh. Sharif Rabi’u Inuwa Allan and the NRA boss Otunba Tade Azeez for the level of officiating in the league which is now highly commendable and appreciated by the league followers.

Another major challenge is the issue of insecurity and crowd violence at league venues , but so far the LMC and the Club Owners have brought it to the lowest minimum level via orientation of the fans , though there were still some few isolated cases.

The recent disengagement by the broadcast right partners Supersport due to economic instability in the country affected the league in terms of prominence, presence and commercial values but the LMC had maintained and sustained the smooth flow of the league despite the challenges while there are concerted efforts to bring the league back to satellite television via NextTv which is ongoing.

League followers have also noticed that government ownership of clubs remains a challenge to the growth of the League. However there are efforts by the league Management Company and the club Owners to seek ways of gradual transition into community ownership of clubs going forward .

The challenges of Players and coaches remuneration, insurance , medicals and steady contracts for the players and coaches are continuously been reviewed to meet an acceptable global standards, taking into consideration the peculiarities of Nigeria operational style and environmental factors.

Personally as a league monitor and Administrator and having traversed the length and breath of Nigeria following the league from Enyimba FC stadium Aba, Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium Enugu, Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri, Rojenny stadium Oba, FCIFEANYIUBAH stadium Nnewi in the south East through to Sharks stadium PH, Godswill Akpabio Nest of champions stadium Uyo, Warri Stadium, Stephen Keshi Memorial stadium Asaba, U.J Esuene stadium Calabar, Sam ogbemudia stadium Benin in the south South, heading towards south west Liberty stadium Ibadan, Onikan stadium Lagos, Akure Township stadium, Township stadium Osogbo, Moshood Abiola stadium Abeokuta towards kwara stadium Ilorin, Bako kontagora stadium Minna, BCC lions stadium Gboko, Lafia Township stadium, Rwang Pam stadium Jos in the north central moving to ATBS stadium Bauchi, Elkanemi Warriors stadium Maiduguri, August 27 stadium Damaturu, Jolly Nyame stadium Jalingo, Gombe stadium, Township stadium Fufure all in the northeast and going towards Kano Pillars stadium, Sardauna Memorial stadium Gusau, Township stadium Hadejia, Ranchers bees stadium Kaduna, Muhammed Dikko Memorial stadium Katsina in the Northwest were all memorable experiences.

From the era of the professional league foundation operating as a department in the football house ( kudos to the likes Dr. Steve Olarinoye, Authentic Secretary Salihu Abubakar) to the independence of the league under Chief Oyuki Obaseki the ‘moving train’ of the league, (special mentions to Tunji Babalola, Arthur Kwarme, Late Shehu Gusau, Armoured tank Alhassan Yakmut, Authentic Salihu Abubakar and others ), to Prince Davidson Owumi who upheld strict compliance with the Rule-book, to Chief Rumson Baribote under whose leadership the league was adjudged best in Africa, to Hon. Nduka Irabor who unbundled the commercial values of the league with high income inflows by strickly blocking leakages without compromise and to Mallam Shehu Dikko who took the league to the world with uncommon transformation and innovations.

These various reforms have taken the league from nowhere to somewhere ‘better’ even as we strive harder to make it the best.

Therefore let the reforms continue .

Congratulations to all the NPFL stakeholders.

Alloy Chukwuemeka writes from his lockeddown isolation room in Ilorin.

The panel, headed by Okon Obono-Obla who is now on the run to avoid prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, ICPC had filed a 16 –count charge against Pinnick, Seyi Akinwunmi (1^st Vice President), Shehu Dikko (2^nd Vice President), Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary) and Ahmed Yusuf (Executive Committee member) with wild claims of alleged corruption against the men, and even subjected them to extensive media trial at home and abroad. Among the charges were misappropriation of the sums of $8.4million and N4billion, conflict of interest and non-declaration of assets.

At a point, now –fleeing Obono-Obla wrote to the Confederation of African Football, CAF twisting all the facts with regards to Nigeria’s participation in the CAF Congress of 2015.

On Tuesday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu dismissed the entire case with all 16 charges, and acquitted the NFF chieftains in consideration of the submission of the defence and the prosecution and in line with the rules of administration of criminal justice.

The clean bill is a confirmation of the position of the NFF on all swirling allegations of corruption against its officials. Nigeria’s supreme football –governing body has always insisted that its leaders were being victimized by persons who lost elections through the ballot and were seeking other means to upturn things at Glass House, or disgruntled individuals simply on a mission of vendetta.

Only last month, a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to remove the names of Pinnick and Sanusi from the witnesses’ category and add them to the list of accused persons in a case at the FCT High Court over the same $8.4million FIFA Grant was put on hold after the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation submitted that it was taking over the case with a view to ascertaining its validity, seeing that same persons were being charged spuriously in different courts and/or investigated by several agencies over the same allegations hewed out of petitions by the same individuals.  

At the court on Tuesday, a counsel from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which had taken over the case, said it could not proceed with the matter as the proof of evidence could not sustain the charges. NFF’s counsel adduced reasons why the charges could not be sustained:

1.  The SPIP Investigation Report dated April 30, 2019 filed in the Honourable Court as Exhibit 7 in the Proof of Evidence and its Findings as contained in page 13 to 21 cleared the NFF officials of all allegations, based on the petition investigated by the Panel.

2. A review of the certified true copy of the NFF Bank account with the Central Bank of Nigeria found that there was no transaction of N4Billion or any amount whatsoever on November 3, 2018 as alleged in the charges filed by SPIP. It was also found that the total inflow into the said NFF account for the whole of 2018 is far less than N1billion, confirming that the alleged N4billion never existed anywhere in the first instance.

In the circumstances, the Defence Counsel applied to the court to dismiss the charges and also discharge and acquit the NFF chieftains, since the proof of evidence could not sustain the charges. The AGF office counsel did not have any objection to this submission by the defence.

The judge then ruled that in view of these facts, she had no option than to discharge and acquit the defendants on all counts, wondering why the case was brought to the court in the first place.

Defence Counsel, Barrister Sani Katu, put the issues in perspective: “The matter was adjourned till today to allow time for investigation as to whether the defendants should be arraigned or not by the Office of the Attorney General which had taken over the matter. The Office of the Attorney General went and investigated the matter and discovered that the proof of evidence could not sustain the charges. On that basis, the Office of the AGF applied to withdraw the charges and the consequence is that the defendants should be discharged and acquitted from all 16 charges, to which the court agreed.”

Ahead of the November 3rd kick off date  of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL 2019/2020 season, the Football club Owners Association of Nigeria (Club Owners) have enjoined its members to imbibe the spirit of fair-play throughout the season. 

The Association  said the sacrifices made in the last season’s abridged league as well as the achievements recorded can only be consolidated upon if all the member- clubs exhibit high level of sportsmanship as the league returns to the 20 team full league format.

According to a statement by the Association jointly signed by the chairman Barr. Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary Alloy Chukwuemeka, club Owners commended all the Football stakeholders for their patience and understanding in the face  of the avoidable litigation challenges faced by the entire Nigeria Football fraternity recently which affected the system. 

It congratulated the new Minister of youths and sports Mr Sunday Dare on his appointment as well as his positive drives towards ensuring that Football is given the right direction to progress devoid of undue sentiments and unnecessary interference. 

Club Owners reaffirmed its confidence on the leadership of the NFF and the LMC in their concerted efforts at giving  the League a new direction to excel .

Meanwhile the Association have named a 6-man Delegation to attend the burial ceremony of the mother of its BOT chairman and ex Lobi stars boss Mr Dominic Iorfa at Gboko Benue state on 9th November 2019.

The Delegation is to be led by the chairman Barr. Isaac Danladi, others are Mr Mike Idoko of Lobi stars, Prince Davidson Owumi of Rangers FC, Mallam Ibrahim Osanga of Nasarawa United FC, Mr Pius Henwan of Plateau United  and Alloy Chukwuemeka Executive Secretary.