By Grace Alegba
The Executive Director of GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd, Mr Nelson Ine, says Nigeria’s topflight football league could attract more than N200billion in investments within five years.
Ine said this during a webinar convened at the company’s headquarters in Lagos, where he spoke on investment opportunities in the country’s football ecosystem.
The event had the theme: “Grassroots Football Investment and Its Impact on Youths”.
He said that the transformation of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) could significantly boost its commercial value and attract both local and foreign investors.
According to him, the league can be valued at over N200billion, equivalent to about 150million dollars, if reforms and structured funding are sustained.
“We are confident that in another five years the NPFL will be worth well over N200 billion. The potential is enormous and the opportunity is clear,” he said.
Ine said that the initiative was being driven through the Nigerian Football Fund, a specialised investment vehicle designed to channel private capital into football assets.
He said the fund allows Nigerians and other investors to participate in the long-term commercial growth of the country’s football industry.
“The objective is to invest in sports assets that are economically viable and capable of transforming football into a profitable sector,” he said.
Ine said that Nigeria had the population, talent and passion required to build a strong football economy.
He, however, said that the sector must move from a social mindset to a business-driven approach.
“If you do not invest, do not expect. Nigeria has not invested enough in football, yet expectations from the sector remain very high,” he said.
The GTI boss stressed the need for supportive government policies to attract investors into sports.
He said that tax incentives, sound regulation and strong corporate governance would help to protect investments and boost investor confidence.
According to him, football investment goes beyond matchday activities and creates wide economic benefits.
He said that functional football clubs could generate employment for players, coaches, medical teams, administrators and other support staff.
Ine also identified merchandising, ticket sales, sponsorships and broadcasting rights as major revenue streams capable of strengthening club finances.
He said that the fund operated within Nigeria’s capital market regulatory framework to ensure investor protection.
He said that it also allowed partial diversification into money market instruments and equities to enhance financial stability.
According to him, the initiative provides Nigerians an opportunity to participate in the transformation of the country’s football industry.
Ine said that the fund would also support grassroots football development and could expand to women’s football and other sports in future.
He advised Nigerians to tap into the investment opportunity leveraging on GTI investment app.
He also emphasised the need for stronger investment and governance in grassroots football to unlock opportunities for youth development and strengthen Nigeria’s sports economy.
“A structured transition programme is needed to harness young talents and build a sustainable pool of professional players for clubs across the country.
“There is the need for consistent capacity building and adoption of modern technology to transform the sector,” he said.
The webinar featured presentations by Abiodun Ogunniyi, Head of Research at GTI, while Tewogbade Abegunde, Coordinator of GTI Finance Academy, moderated the session. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
