GTI Projects N200bn Growth for Nigeria Premier Football League

Nigeria’s topflight football league could be worth more than N200 billion in the next five years if reforms and structured funding are sustained, according to GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd.

‘We are confident that in another five years the NPFL will be worth well over N200 billion. The potential is enormous and the opportunity is clear,’ said Nelson Ine, the company’s Executive Director at a webinar in Lagos themed ‘Grassroots Football Investment and Its Impact on Youths.

He explained that the initiative is being driven through the Nigerian Football Fund, a specialised investment vehicle designed to channel private capital into football assets.

‘The objective is to invest in sports assets that are economically viable and capable of transforming football into a profitable sector,’ Ine said, adding that the fund allows Nigerians and other investors to participate in the long-term commercial growth of the country’s football industry.

Ine stressed that Nigeria has the population, talent and passion to build a strong football economy, but warned that the sector must move from a social mindset to a business-driven approach.

‘If you do not invest, do not expect. Nigeria has not invested enough in football, yet expectations from the sector remain very high,’ he said.

He also highlighted the need for supportive government policies to attract investors, pointing to tax incentives, sound regulation and strong corporate governance as critical to boosting confidence.

According to him, football investment goes beyond matchday activities, creating employment opportunities for players, coaches, medical teams, administrators and other support staff, while merchandising, ticket sales, sponsorships and broadcasting rights could strengthen club finances.

The Nigerian Football Fund operates within the capital market regulatory framework to ensure investor protection, with partial diversification into money market instruments and equities to enhance stability.

Ine said the fund would also support grassroots football development and could expand to women’s football and other sports in the future.

‘A structured transition programme is needed to harness young talents and build a sustainable pool of professional players for clubs across the country,’ he added.