NPFL, AFRINVEST task football clubs on using marketing, media to improve revenue
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and AFRINVEST have tasked football clubs on building record data to drive marketing and media strategies to improve their annual revenue.
The NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, and the Manager of AFRINVEST, Enugu Office, Emmanuel Eleojo, gave the task on Wednesday in Enugu in seperate addresses during NPFL-AFRINVEST Seminar on Marketing, Investments, Brand Merchandising and Media.
Owumi challenged clubs to have functional websites, which is constantly visible with record data on information about the club – players, coaches, history, focus, clips of previous matches, statistics on performance and others.
He noted that NPFL was working to ensure that clubs would be commercially viable to stand on their own instead of relying on state governments assistance or going begging for financial assistance.
According to him, we want our clubs to plan to be commercially viable and stand on their own like clubs in other climes of the world.
“Good visibility and marketing in social media, mainstream media and other online platforms well-packaged will do a lot to sell a club and its branded articles,” he said.
Owumi said that a shining example of how a club could be uplifted financial and revenue-wise is the current Rangers International FC and AFRINVEST partnership, which have stood since 2023 till date.
“A club without a functional and innovative marketing and media department is struggling to survive and might die,” he said.
The chief operating officer encouraged the participants at the seminar to listen and learn, adding: “You must go home and start implementation immediate and get creative”.
Speaking, the Manager of AFRINVEST, Enugu Office, Emmanuel Eleojo, commended the NPFL and football clubs for a successful completion of the 2025-2026 season.
Eleojo said that AFRINVEST had been making it possible for football to meet enduring finance meant to improve the fortunes of football in the country.
According to him, the company wants clubs to leverage on finance to grow and expand to make football the money spinning fortune it should be.
“With good investment, players and coaches can concentrate on their main duties and be rest assured that the club has finance backbone to prosecuted their programmes any season,” he said.
In an address, the General Manager of Rangers International FC, Amobi Ezeaku, lauded NPFL and AFRINVEST for sponsoring and hosting the transformational seminar in Enugu.
Ezeaku appreciated AFRINVEST for believing and partnering with Rangers International FC as well as the positive result the investment partnership had brought to both entities.
One of the lead paper presenters at the seminar, Mr George Isitua-Onukwu, harped on the need for the clubs to adopt a clear and timed approach to branding and marketing.
Isitua-Onukwu, who spoke on the topic: ‘Monetising NPFL Clubs Through Marketing, Sponsorship and Brand Investment”, said: “NPFL sponsors report hesitation because clubs cannot yet guarantee the consistent visibility and production quality brands ask for”.
He advocated building a 12-month commercial calendar with named deadlines, renewals, briefs, and reporting reviews.
“People wear clubs when the club represents something they want to express,” Isitua-Onukwu added.