By Victor Okoye
Abuja – The League Management Company (LMC) have signed two separate commercial partnerships with two service providers, Kari Xchange and Digital Mobility (VDL).
A statement by Harry Iwuala, LMC’s media officer issued on Wednesday in Abuja said partnerships were geared towards deploying technology for the league.
He said that the drive would engaged, monetize content and expand the fan base of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
”The LMC signed an agreement with Kari Xchange, a software development company for the design, development and operating of a fan engagement platform for the NPFL.
Eucharia Amanambu, the Chief Executive Officer of Kari Xchange was quoted saying that they were working with global Information Technology giant, Microsoft.
She said the aim was to build a platform where football fans within and outside the country would follow and engage in football activities.
Amanambu said the platform would also let fans know more about the NPFL matches, clubs and players.
Describing the workings of the platform when built, Amanambu said, “this platform will enable football fans meet and engage other fans, access NPFL football news, play NPFL fantasy football and other games.
“It will also allow the NPFL players and aspiring footballers on the platform to showcase their talents to the world”.
She further explained that the platform would be configured to enable fans buy NPFL Clubs’ merchandise, match tickets, bet and support their NPFL clubs.
The platform would also be offering loyalty reward to the fans.
A second agreement signed same day was with Vas Digital Mobility (VDL), a key player in the telecommunications Value Added Services (VAS) domain specializing in made for mobile content for consumers.
Represented by Oluwarotimi Fasuyi, the Chief Operating Officer, VDL said it partnered with LMC to achieve content penetration and increase in engagement for the NPFL on mobile phones.
He explained that the partnership would make it possible for followers of the NPFL to follow the games through video highlight content on mobile phones.
“The growing number of Smartphone users in Nigeria and the launch of 4G LTE by telecom operators has provided the unique opportunity for Nigerians to enjoy the league on mobile phones.
“Nigerians will now be able to watch video highlights of matches, match review, preview and video news of NPFL daily” he said.
Shehu Dikko, Chairman of LMC recalled that the vision of the LMC has been to continuously enter into alliance with critical solution providers in all sectors.
This, he said was for the development of the NPFL towards attaining globally acceptable commercial and games management standard.
He noted that the companies had been selected following painstaking discussions, evaluation and fine tuning of proposed strategies.
Dikko therefore called on government to support the LMC by putting in place enabling policies, legislation and critical infrastructure that would enhance football business in Nigeria.
“This is proof of what has been stated many times that the NPFL is a veritable catalyst for job creation and economic growth through cross-sector interconnections.
“By supporting and collaborating with the LMC, governments at all levels can utilize these opportunities to drive the economic diversification policy, grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create jobs for our teeming youth across the country.
“Today marks another milestone in our march to position the NPFL commercial operations towards monetising critical assets of the league.
“Our drive going forward is getting the stakeholders to focus beyond the three points from a match and build enduring commercial structures”, said the LMC Chairman.
He said global business operations were driven by technology and the LMC was keying into the global trend to maximise existing potentials in the NPFL.
Dikko added that the LMC would continue to seek new opportunities to grow the commercial capacity of the league to generate wealth.