WORLD football ruling body FIFA officials have arrived in Nigeria to oversee a two-day workshop for Chairmen and Chief Operating Officers of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nigeria Women’s League (NWFL) clubs.
The workshop, taking place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday, is aimed at equipping the club executives with tools for successful operations.
“The workshop is geared towards taking a critical look into the management model of Nigerian football clubs and the leagues, with the purpose of opening new vistas and insights in proper governance, improving commercial viability and broadening the world-view of the administrators to drive their teams towards real growth and sustainability,” the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) explained.
A total of 40 persons are expected from the 20 NPFL clubs (Chairman and CEO of each club), with the Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of the NPFL, NNL, NWFL and the Nigeria Nationwide League One also to take part.
NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau will lead a small team from the federation, alongside the NFF 2nd Vice President, Gbenga Elegbeleye and the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
FIFA’s delegation is led by El Hadji Wack Diop, Head of FIFA Regional Office for West and Central Africa, and includes Rasoamahenina Sanda Manonisoa, Marcos Piccalo, Federico Perez, Javier Sobrino and Laurent Colette.
Colette is a former Managing Director of French top club Olympique de Marseille, while Sobrino is a former Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of Spain’s FC Barcelona.
“Each of the 20 NPFL clubs is expected to submit a document indicating a clear pathway to financial autonomy, while taking good advantage of the history and assets of the clubs to grow them into global brands,” the NFF noted.
“The sessions will offer nuggets on strategic planning, finance, commercial and marketing, and governance.”