Lagos, January 6, 2024: The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has inked a significant strategic partnership deal with GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd. for the Federation Cup, the country’s oldest domestic club competition, formerly known as the FA Cup. The deal aims to enhance the commercial value of the tournament and attract crucial sponsorships.
Andrew Ekejiuba, GTI’s Media Officer, released a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, highlighting that the signing ceremony took place in Abuja. The collaboration is anticipated to rejuvenate the Federation Cup and contribute to its development through increased commercialization.
Ibrahim Gusau, the President of the NFF, expressed appreciation for GTI Group’s achievements with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and anticipated positive impacts on the Federation Cup’s growth through this partnership.
Similarly, Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF General Secretary, stated, “The NFF is delighted about this partnership as we are keen to have the glory days of the Federation Cup back. This agreement has the potential to robustly improve the country’s football economy.”
GTI’s Group Managing Director, Abubakar Lawal, affirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging its expertise and experience to enhance the management of the Federation Cup. Lawal assured stakeholders that starting from the 2023/2024 edition, the structure and prize money of the tournament would be elevated.
“We expect that between now and the first three years of this deal, the FA Cup would have been transformed into a very competitive tournament full of excitement and glamour. Therefore, we call on the investing public to find it worthy to invest in our football via the Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF),” Lawal emphasized.
He further highlighted the transformative impact of TNFF, a registered tool for driving football development in the country, endorsed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Federation Cup, established in 1945, serves as the primary football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria, involving over 2,000 teams from across the 774 local governments of the Federation and FCT.
GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd. previously became a strategic partner to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in 2022, displaying a continued commitment to reshaping the elite league’s financial landscape.
