YOUTH and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has
reaffirmed Government's commitment towards making Nigeria investment friendly.
The Minister gave the assurance when a delegation of the
Spanish Professional League La Liga and the Management of the League Management
Company paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja ahead of today's Technical
Partnership Agreement between the LMC/ Nigeria Premier Football League and La
Liga.
Barrister Dalung praised the LMC for keying into the
policy thrust of government for the development of the elite league which
provides jobs for one thousand youths in the twenty clubs and stimulates
business activities within the areas matches are played.
"The league in Nigeria is indeed a major tool for
social cohesion. Government is committed to putting in place, enabling
administrative and legal frameworks for international business
partnerships".
According to the Minister, government will work with and
support the managers of football in the country for meaningful projects like
the international collaboration with Spain.
"It is of significance that the NPFL and La Liga are
entering into an understanding that will improve the business aspects of the
league in Nigeria. Such areas will boost
the earnings of football which will in turn impact positively on the welfare of
the players while creating new frontiers for business" Dalung said.
On the occasion,
the Chairman LMC, Mallam Shehu Dikko explained that the Nigeria Professional
Football league was among the first two
leagues to be admitted to the World League forum which is a meeting of the best
leagues in the world. Dikko said the outcome of that meeting was what has
brought about the partnership about to take place between Nigeria and Spain
towards the development of the Nigerian league.
"Our objective is to be able to move with the times.
We need to get our league to conform to international standards and best
practices. La Liga is one of the best leagues in the world. They have some of
the richest clubs in the world and they have a system which is very attractive
to us. The structure and management of their clubs is fantastic as well as the
way the government and the clubs relate. They also have a legislature by the
government to ensure that the league is developed. We need to learn how they're
doing it and this is why we are here today" Dikko said.
The LMC Chairman said
that the Memorandum of Understanding will have a technical arrangement
where the LMC can work in all areas to develop the league. These include
training of our local coaches and administrators, youth and players'
development, commercial activities, digital media and marketing.
Dikko said La Liga was willing to set up a liaison office
in Nigeria to drive the process.
"We will also learn the structure of club ownership.
From fan's ownership to individual and corporate ownership. We will unveil
details of these and other discussions we had,
when we sign the agreement today".
The leader of the La Liga delegation Mr Javier Tebas
expressed happiness in coming to share experiences with the NPFL and the LMC.
"We are here not only to teach but to share
experience and we are sure we can also learn from the Nigerian Football
League. This exchange of experience will
help us to grow and we'll ratify this today with a Memorandum of Understanding.
Football is not only a commercial issue but also an example of values
especially for youths in any country and the La Liga will like to help develop
these values for the Nigerian youths. We want to use the names of our stars to
transmit the values of the sport. We will also offer our expertise not only to
football but to the Nigerian government," Tebas explained.
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation Mr Amaju
Pinnick said the partnership was as a result of the many capacity building
projects embarked upon by the federation.
"Though our football is going through troubled
times, we are going to end well by God's grace. Whatever Memorandum of
Understanding that will be signed between the LMC and the La Liga, we'll make
sure we superintend and ensure that they abide by everything to the
latter".
The partnership between the NPFL and La Liga takes place
today Tuesday 26, April 2016 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
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