By Esther Egbe
Nigeria Football Federation and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited on recently in Lagos consummated a partnership agreement that made the beverage behemoth ‘Official Soft Drink and Co-Sponsor of Nigeria National Teams’ National Daily gathered.
Cletus Onyebuoha, Head of Strategic Marketing (Sparkling) at Coca-Cola’s West Africa Business Unit comprising 33 countries with 45% Africa population, said: “We are proud and excited to partner with the Nigeria Football Federation as a sponsor of the Nigeria National Teams. Historically, Coca-Cola has always been in the forefront of corporate support for the development of football in Nigeria National Daily learnt
“This sponsorship of the Nigeria National Teams is a further demonstration of Coca-Cola’s commitment to football in Nigeria at all levels and our support for communities where we operate. Everyone knows that Coca-Cola is the Official Global Partner of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 National Daily gathered.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick said: “We are delighted to be associated with a super brand like Coca-Cola. A lot of good is happening to Nigerian football all round and I want to commend Members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management for the giant strides.”
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Olusade Adesola, who represented the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, commended Coca-Cola for the move and appealed to other corporate bodies in the country to emulate the soft drink giants.
Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Bhupendra Suri and the Managing Director of Nigeria Bottling Company, Georgios Polymenakos also expressed their excitement at the agreement, while congratulating the NFF and the Super Eagles for qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
NFF 2 Vice President/Chairman of Marketing, Sponsorship and TV Rights Committee, Shehu Dikko, explained that the initial contract is for a period of five years and worth $4 million, and also renewable.
Also at the ceremony which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island were NFF 1 Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF Executive Committee member Aisha Falode, NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr, LMC CEO Nduka Irabor, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Bismark Rewane, Coca-Cola’s Public Affairs Manager Amaka Onyemelukwe, NBC’s Legal Director Sade Morgan, AIPS Vice President Mitchell Obi, NFF Director of Competitions Bola Oyeyode, Director of Communications Ademola Olajire, Head of Marketing Alizor Chuks, Super Falcons’ player Asisat Oshoala and Onome Ebi and leading lights of sports reporting in the country.