GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited, a strategic supporter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for choosing to raise prize money for clubs that finish as winners of Nigeria’s top-flight competition.
In remarks delivered in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, said the decision highlights the resolve of Nigerian sports administrators to push the NPFL toward a more competitive and commercially appealing future.
“By increasing the prize money in the NPFL, the authorities are sending a clear message that will motivate clubs, raise the level of rivalry, and communicate the right direction to investors and other stakeholders,” Ekejiuba said. He further argued that extra funding from the NSC aimed at strengthening the league’s operations would help speed up its overall growth.
Ekejiuba also pointed to efforts already underway, crediting the NPFL Board and the GTI Group for what he described as four years of reforms and investment designed to reposition the league. He said the programme has covered areas such as corporate governance, commercial value, and improving the league’s appeal to potential investors.
He stressed that progress requires alignment among the sport’s major institutions, describing collaboration as “a means to an end” rather than an objective in itself.
While welcoming the latest developments, Ekejiuba urged caution against early celebrations, warning that significant tasks are still ahead. He cited the need to continue work on governance, club licensing, infrastructure, production standards, content and data management, financial accountability, and fan engagement.
GTI, he said, is committed to partnering with the NPFL to build a football environment that is accountable and transparent, with the goal of attracting more partners, sponsors and investors. Ekejiuba also noted that GTI welcomes additional stakeholders to join the initiative, adding that the current level of investment—including the recently announced grant—amounts to less than two per cent of the league’s likely total revenue potential over the next five years.
