- By Joan Iwuchukwu
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has entered into a landmark ₦2.14 billion Exclusive Broadcast and Data Management Agreement aimed at modernizing league operations, improving transparency, and enhancing the league’s global visibility.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed on Wednesday at the Continental Hotel in Abuja, with NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, leading the league’s delegation.
The agreement establishes strategic partnerships with Inview Technologies Nigeria Limited, AS Production Hub Limited (ASPH), and Roundup Technologies Limited.
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Under the terms of the deal, Inview Technologies Nigeria Limited will serve as a principal partner for a five-year period, investing a total of ₦2 billion, including an ₦800 million upfront payment to the NPFL. In addition, Roundup Technologies Limited will contribute ₦140 million, bringing the combined value of the agreements to ₦2.14 billion over five years.
The partnership covers exclusive broadcast, data management, and commercialization rights, all designed to transform the NPFL’s digital infrastructure and operational efficiency.
Through this collaboration, the league’s technology partners will deploy advanced systems for data collection, analytics, and digital operations. These innovations will improve match reporting, performance tracking, player statistics, and club management, while boosting fan engagement and ensuring greater transparency across all league activities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye described the agreement as “a major milestone in the NPFL’s mission to modernize its operations and position Nigerian football among the best-managed leagues globally.”
He recalled the league’s journey toward improved visibility, stating:
“When we started the league in 2022 after the NFF President, Mr. Moguri, revived the NPFL, there was no television coverage at all. And we know that a league without TV coverage is not really a league. So, we partnered with NTA to air a ‘Match of the Week,’ paying for production through GTI — about $5 million per production — just to remind Nigerians that the league exists again.”
Elegbeleye noted that the NPFL later collaborated with Propel to broadcast six matches per week during the first season and has since partnered with StarTimes, which now operates a dedicated NPFL channel.
However, he emphasized that the league’s ultimate goal is to ensure free-to-air access for all Nigerians:
“The average Nigerian — about 40 million people — still watches analogue television. Many cannot afford pay-TV subscriptions, which only reach between two to six million subscribers. With this new arrangement, anyone with a basic TV setup will be able to watch NPFL games from home. Our goal is to eventually launch a dedicated NPFL television channel.”
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, commended the initiative, describing it as the culmination of extensive consultations and planning.
“We are here today to conclude a long-standing discussion that has been ongoing for some time. This partnership will ensure that every household with a television can easily access NPFL matches. We took our time to bring all stakeholders together to understand and align with the vision behind this initiative.”
The new partnership marks a significant step in the NPFL’s commitment to building a sustainable, technology-driven league that connects deeply with fans across Nigeria and beyond.
