The League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday signed two separate commercial partnerships with two service providers that are geared towards deploying technology to drive engagement, 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 said they are working with global Information Technology giant, Microsoft, to build a platform where football fans within and outside the country will follow and engage in football activities, follow and know more about the NPFL matches, clubs and players.
She further explained that the platform will be configured to enable fans buy NPFL Clubs’ merchandise, match tickets, bet and support their NPFL clubs. The platform will 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 is partnering with the LMC to achieve content penetration and increase in engagement for the NPFL on mobile phones. He explained that the partnership will make it possible for followers of the NPFL to follow the games through video highlight content on mobile phones.
In his words, “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 their mobile phones across the country by watching video highlights of matches, match review and preview, and video news of NPFL daily”.
Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of LMC recalled that the vision of the LMC has been to continuously enter into alliance with critical solution providers in all sectors for the development of the NPFL towards attaining globally acceptable commercial and games management standard. He said the companies have been selected following painstaking discussions, evaluation and fine tuning of proposed strategies.
He therefore called on government to support the LMC by putting in place enabling policies, legislation and critical infrastructure that will 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,” Dikko stated.