Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, first Vice President, Tafida Gadzama hopes the announcement of a N300m sponsorship deal between the federation and AFN will finally be signed.
The AFN and Premium Trust Bank announced on Monday in Lagos after a meeting that the much talked about sponsorship deal will finally be signed latest next week when the Benin City leg of the AFN Golden League is scheduled to hold.
‘I hope the deal will be completed as promised. We were told nine months ago there was a deal without the knowledge of board members and this formed part of our protest against Mr President (Tonobok Okowa),’ said Gadzama in a statement.
The Sydney Olympics gold medal winner is however demanding explanation on why a deal that was announced in August 2022 is about to be signed in June 2023.
‘We still don’t know the details of the contract other than what they have told us on the pages of newspapers that the deal is tied to competitions. Is it a particular event or all AFN competitions? Is Premium Trust Bank coming in as AFN’s official bank or title sponsors of all our competitions? The board needs to know before the contract is signed,’ said Gadzama.
The AFN first Vice President is happy both the AFN and Premium Trust Bank have cleared the air on the reported scramble for Premium Trust Bank sponsorship money planted in The Guardian newspaper by some unscrupulous elements.
‘It is crystal clear their campaign of calumny against board members who are demanding for transparency and inclusiveness in the running of the board has failed. What is worrisome is that the media is allowing itself to be misguided.
Gadzama says he is amused members of the board of AFN are accused of scrambling for what does not exist.
‘We all want an AFN that will be run as a responsible organisation and not one handed handouts by people of questionable means. Our athletes have done enough and have positively projected our image worldwide. What we need to do is to take advantage of it by showing to the world an efficient and effective AFN.’
