NFF, NB Plc sign N2.5b five-year sponsorship deal
The Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) coffers got a huge boost at the weekend when one of the biggest brewers of alcoholic beverages, Nigeria Breweries Plc added N2.5 billion to its till. The sponsorship deal, which will run for an initial five years, will give the brewing outfit the right to endorse all of the NFF’s products.
The agreement states that the NFF will get N450 million from NB Plc every year. It also makes Star Lager the ‘Official Alcoholic Drink of the Super Eagles’ while Amstel Malta is now the ‘Official Malt Drink of the NFF and the National Teams,’ including Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup –bound Super Eagles.
At the unveiling of the contract in Lagos on Friday, the NFF bigwigs, including its president, Amaju Pinnick, and NB Plc’s Managing Director/CEO, Jordi Borrut Bel pledged the total commitment of their organisations to every letter of the contract.
Elated by the development, Pinnick described NB Plc as “an organisation that has been a torch –bearer of excellence and corporate social responsibility for the several decades it has operated in Nigeria.
“There were other companies that were interested in these categories but once Nigerian Breweries landed, they landed with conviction, with panache and with finality. We are happy to be involved with them, and I must praise Pamodzi Sports Marketing chairman Mike Itemuagbor, as well as Mitchell Obi and Ejiro Omonode for the roles they played in actualizing this wonderful relationship.
“The NFF is delighted to be in this relationship, and we want to assure you that Nigerian Football will meet your expectations all round.”
Describing the endorsement as a dream come true, Bel said, “We are indeed delighted about this partnership between Nigerian Breweries plc and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). This relationship provides us an opportunity to celebrate the true Nigerian spirit that is fuelled by patriotism, passion and desire for victory, through the platform of Football.”
At the impressive ceremony attended by 10 former national team captains, senior NFF operatives and the cream of Nigeria sports journalists, NB Plc’s Marketing Director, Franco Maria Maggi declared: “We are not thinking of five years for this partnership. We are thinking of eternity. It is a dream that we have nursed for a long time. It is the ideal thing for Nigerian Breweries to partner with Nigerian Football. We are keen to win with Nigeria.”
Among the former national team captains at the event were Olusegun Odegbami, Henry Nwosu, Peter Rufai, Augustine Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal and Ann Chiejine, as well as award –winning former Super Falcons’ forward, Okunwa Igunbor.
