NLO Chairman Stresses Factors Needed to Attract Sponsorship, Improve League Branding

NLO Chairman Stresses Factors Needed to Attract Sponsorship, Improve League Branding

By Gbenga Gboyega

Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, and current Chairman of the Nationwide League One, H. E. Silas Agara, has hinted at good synergy and the adoption of digital media as factors needed to attract attention and improve the League's branding, as BSNSports.com.ng reports on his first official interaction with the NLO Media channel.

Agara currently leads the newly constituted Board of the NLO following the reshuffling led by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau this month and has highlighted plans for his board in his first official interaction with NLO Media Channel.

“It's an opportunity to serve, I’m always available when my services are needed. This call to duty is aimed at providing leadership to our teeming youths, with Board Members cut across the six geo-political zones. 

"We met once as a board, immediately after the inauguration and set agendas for ourselves, and we hope to meet in the next few days to review the entire structure of the Nationwide League One," he said.

In the interview, Silas Agara established that there were challenges on the ground faced by the Youth League system, but is optimistic about resolving them. 

He also alluded to the fact that the newly appointed board consists of knowledgeable persons who are also club owners with a wealth of experience, notably the two State Football Association Chairmen on the Board.

“This a league that has over 300 clubs, a platform where you have young Nigerians with the age bracket of 14 to 19 years of age, plying their trade and looking for opportunities to get exposed. 

"In spite of the challenges, it is too early to make public our plans as we have just been inaugurated but I can assure you that there is going to be a change of direction.”

On factors needed to attract attention and improve the branding of the Youth League, Agara mentioned good synergy with the media as the most critical.

“We want to have a good synergy with the media, as that’s the best way we can showcase the NLO. 

"We can do this by getting the right reportage and of course brands that will sponsor the league. Without the right media, coverage of NLO activities to a global audience, and encouraging sponsorship will be difficult.

“We need the media to reach out to these top brands, and intending sponsors, while maintaining good reportage of the league and not negative ones, for them to make critical decisions. 

"If we don’t have that understanding with the media, we can’t fly our kite regarding sponsorship. We also need to woo the media and bring our plans to the league on the table for them to see and help us reach out to Nigerians."

Speaking on the plans for next season’s NLO Youth League, Agara stated that the newly appointed board is monitoring events at the current edition while proferring solutions to the loopholes seen thus far. 

"The Board really has not much time as our tenure is for two years. However, since we have been given the marching order by the NFF, our job is to address issues and improve on what’s on the ground.”