Tony Elumelu, chairman of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Heirs Holdings, says his corporations are evaluating the “viability” of buying a club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Elumelu spoke on Monday while replying to a tweet calling for the involvement of more business corporations in the Nigerian football leagues.
Adebayo Mustapha, an X user, urged the federal government to “weigh in on the big corporations in Nigeria” to acquire controlling shares in “at least one league club as part of CSR”.
Mustapha gave hypothetical paring of teams and companies, adding that it would create “competition” in the league.
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“Can we get the President and Ministry of Sport to weigh in on the big corporations in Nigeria to buy at least one league club as part of CSR? Imagine Dangote buys Kano Pillars, BUA buys Kwara United, Elumelu acquires Rivers United, and Geregu takes over 3sc. Imagine the competition,” the tweet reads.
Replying to the tweet, Elumelu said John Enoh, minister of sports, had pitched the offer to him, and the idea is being put through a feasibility test.
“This is a nice idea. The Sports Minister, senator John Enoh, is already thinking along this line and has approached me, and we are already evaluating viability,” the tweet reads.
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Only three teams — Sporting Lagos, Remo Stars, and Doma United — out of the 20 NPFL teams are owned by private entities. The remaining clubs are government-owned.
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