Following on the heels of the official signing of the naming rights of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with Globacom Limited, the League Management Company (LMC) has expressed appreciation to other corporate bodies that have been supporting the league through sponsorship of clubs.

In a statement on Wednesday, the LMC acknowledged the contributions of companies such as Guinness, ULO Consultants, a construction company founded by Chief Uche Okpunor and Isiaku Rabiu’s BUA Group through shirt endorsement deals with NPFL clubs. Guinness Nigeria,  through two of its brands, Dubic Beer and Harp Beer has endorsement deals with Enyimba, 3SC, Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars, Rangers, Heartland and Dolphins. Enyimba and 3SC are endorsed by Dubic Beer while the other five are endorsed by Harp. BUA Group is the shirt sponsor of Kano Pillars while ULO Consultants sponsors Sunshine Stars.

Chairman of the LMC, Nduka Irabor urged other corporate organisations to adopt the League as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project by sponsoring the clubs within their communities of operation.

In addition to promoting their commercial interests, he said the companies will be creating opportunities for youths to exploit their talents beneficially for their families and country as well as reduce youth restiveness.

He disclosed that the LMC has opened the league for other telecommunication operators to sponsor league clubs in strict compliance to regulations that will not permit such engagement to dilute the rights of the title sponsor, Globacom.

He said the LMC has created conditions for the enforcement of clubs’ obligations to sponsors through the organisational framework of transparent corporate governance that has been designed to run the league.

He then appealed to persons who are not properly informed on the workings of the league reforms and sponsorship engagements to refrain from making unguarded statements that are capable of eroding the confidence of the business community in the league.

Irabor, while noting that such seemingly irresponsible statements devalue the equity of the league, remarked that sponsors are attracted to invest in environments with well structured management such as is being put in place by the LMC.

“We at the LMC fully appreciates the contributions of all level of partners to the league and are determined to attract more investors by putting in place a globally acceptable corporate governance policies and structures that will support growth of league football business in Nigeria, stability of management and succession of Board of Directors”, concluded the LMC Chairman.