NPFL targets bigger sponsorships, urges clubs to embrace digital transformation

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has intensified efforts to attract bigger corporate sponsorships ahead of the 2026/27 season by urging clubs to embrace digital transformation, improve data generation and strengthen their branding strategies.

The renewed drive took centre stage on the final day of the NPFL–Afrinvest Media and Marketing Workshop in Enugu, where media officers and marketing heads of the league’s 20 clubs received practical training on building financially sustainable football businesses through enhanced digital engagement and commercial partnerships.

Speaking at the workshop, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, Chief Davidson Owunmi, said the league was committed to repositioning itself as an attractive investment destination, noting that reliable digital data had become a key requirement for corporate organisations seeking sponsorship opportunities.

According to Owunmi, one of the workshop’s key objectives was to equip club media and marketing departments with modern strategies that would help them attract reputable companies, including Afrinvest, to partner with the league.

He said strengthening clubs’ digital presence and commercial capacity would enhance the league’s appeal to investors and create new opportunities for sustainable growth.

“We are here to share knowledge on how to attract companies like Afrinvest to partner with us in developing the league. Every club must improve its digital presence because that is where today’s football business is headed,” Owunmi said.

He challenged clubs to maintain functional websites containing player profiles, match statistics, attendance figures, fixtures and other valuable information capable of attracting investors, offering a cash reward of ₦100,000 to any club that could immediately demonstrate a website with over 200,000 hits and comprehensive data from last season. None of the clubs was able to meet the challenge.

Owunmi lamented that despite ongoing discussions with potential sponsors worth millions of dollars, many corporate organisations were reluctant to conclude agreements because the league lacked comprehensive and verifiable data.

“We have contracts worth millions of dollars under discussion, but when sponsors ask for our data, we have little to present. A website without content is useless. Data is the next major source of revenue after broadcasting, and our clubs must begin to take it seriously,” he stated.

He further urged clubs to reduce their dependence on government funding by strengthening their media and marketing departments, describing both units as critical drivers of commercial growth.

“You cannot continue doing the same thing and expect different results. A dead media department is a dead club, and a dead marketing department is equally a dead club. Our clubs must occupy their digital space if they want to attract the younger generation and major investors,” he added.

Owunmi cited the experience of Rangers International as evidence that strategic marketing could significantly improve club finances, recalling that the club secured a sleeve sponsorship worth about ₦200 million through effective commercial engagement.

Also speaking, Manager at Afrinvest, Emmanuel Eleojo, said the investment firm’s partnership with the NPFL was built on its “Finance Meets Football” philosophy, which promotes strong financial backing as a catalyst for sustainable football development.

He noted that Afrinvest’s collaboration with Rangers International had demonstrated the value of corporate support, resulting in improved youth development, greater professionalism, national team opportunities for players and two league titles within three years.

“The success of Nigerian football is not only about what happens on the pitch but also about the strength of the institutions supporting the clubs. When finance meets football, there is growth, increased investment and success,” Eleojo said.

The General Manager of Rangers International, Amobi Ezeaku, commended the NPFL leadership for initiating reforms aimed at improving the commercial fortunes of clubs and the league.

He also appreciated Afrinvest for sponsoring the workshop and urged media officers and marketing directors to embrace innovation, saying they would play a decisive role in generating new revenue streams for their clubs.

“We want to build a healthy football ecosystem where clubs become financially stronger. Our media officers and marketing directors should become the backbone of revenue generation, while our club brands and jerseys become visible across the country,” Ezeaku said.

Participants at the workshop expressed optimism that the knowledge acquired would help clubs strengthen their digital platforms, improve fan engagement and position the NPFL for increased sponsorship and commercial growth ahead of the 2026/27 season.