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Investment in Football Capable of Growing Nigeria’s Economy – Abubakar Lawal, GMD, GTI Group

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Photos by Ken Ehimen

In the face of several challenges that have in recent times befuddled optimal performance in Nigerian football, preparations for the Russia 2018 Mundial has succinctly buttressed the importance of investing in the sector, which holds great economic potentials for the country.

This fact was made bare at the GTI’s first Football Townhall Meeting with investment and finance analysts, policy makers; finance and sports journalists in a brainstorming session on football and its subservience to economic development, at the GTI House in Lagos on Thursday, June 7, 2018.

MD GTI Asset Management, Mr. Amos Aledare

Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, GTI Capital Group, Mr. Abubakar Lawal tasked Nigerians to see the period as best time to invest in sporting activities, especially football as a business that is capable of growing the nation’s economy.

Engineer Adewunmi Adeyemo, MD GTI Micro-finance Bank, Mrs. Hauwa Haruna-Sheidi with a guest

The GMD hinted that, “Apart from oil production in the country, football and other sports competitions have occupied a vantage position in building the desired economy for the country. He reaffirmed the need to shift attention to sporting activities from oil”.

He pointed out that with possible combination of football and oil exploration development, the nation could easily tackle the high rate of poverty level which currently stands at 60.7 percent, grow the GDP and position Nigerian economy on strong pedestal.

Answering questions on how the country missed it, Lawal identified government’s succession problem, negative perceptions against the country and its citizenry, corruption, nationalist problems and other sharp practices like bending the rules as responsible for sports underdevelopment in Nigeria, pointing out that sports provided a veritable platform for public and private sectors to make money for the country and citizens.

Finance Director GTI Group, Mr. Boye Adegbemi with Engr. Adewunmi Adeyemo

On his own part, the Chief Economist/Head, Corporate Transformation, GTI, Professor Martin Ike-Muonso, argued that football in Nigeria served as a means of social cohesion and the building of the communities.

According to him, as at 2012, about 43 million Nigerian youths were actively involved in sports with official statistics suggesting that about 93 percent of this number were involved largely in football.

He said, “3.53 percent of these numbers were professionals while the rest were involved solely for recreational purposes as fans. This is consistent with 2014 Repucom world football report which equally found out that about 85 percent choose football as the favorite sports to watch on TV.

Mr. Nnamdi Obi with Mrs. Olufunke Tona-Obafemi

He further harped on the enormous economic benefits of the game to the country quoting its stupendous accrual to the UK economy.

“The premier league presents a fantastic example of the prospects held by the football economy. The league’s economic impact on the UK economy shows that it improves the national economy by 6.2 billion pounds; domestic output by 3.4billion pounds and 2.4billion pounds in taxes. Over 6000 jobs are directly provided by the league while it supports the provision of more than 103 thousand jobs across the UK through the clubs.”

Mr. Pius Ayinor

Elaborating on the course to take while investing in the sector, Professor Martin averred that;

“A mutual fund type investment vehicle that focuses exclusively on establishing a vibrant football ecosystem may be a good stimulator of these initiatives. Such a vehicle should be able to use the extant tremendous support base to translate the value chains in the sub sector into vibrant generators of surplus values. Substantial parts of funds should be invested in the upgrade of football infrastructure and real estate such as stadia. It should also support the emergence of vibrant clubs and construction and implementation of adequate safety nets for current and past players and eventually birth a private sector driven league”.

Mr. Pius Ayinor, GMD GTI Group, Mr. Abubakar Lawal, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Mr. Debo Oshundun with Group Sports Editor, The SUN Newspapers, Mr. Emma Jemegah

The Managing Director, GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, Mr. Amos Aledare, listed public, private participation in growing football, encouraging rural talents, personal interest on the side of the coaches, signing of age long football strategic plans and strengthening policy framework in favour of football as leeway to getting back the desired benefits of playing football.

He also called on other stakeholders to commence with immediate effect, major restructuring and investment in the sub-sector and in line with best practices.

Chief Economist and Head, Corporate Transformation, Prof. Martins Ike-Muonso

Several other inputs from participants in the Football Town hall meeting emphasized the need for corporate institutions involvement in football, abstinence of personal interest of the coaches to uphold national interest, a detour to the grassroots to raise talents, an end to legal tussles in NFF, an end to setting up of football clubs mainly as means of siphoning funds from Government etc.

Company Secretary, GTI Group, Ms Omotayo Akapo with MD GTI Micro-finance Bank, Mrs. Hauwa Haruna-Sheidi

Other suggestions to move the game ahead were; calling on government to come up with policies that will enhance private participation, promote  conducive business environment to enable local production of kits and jerseys,  Infrastructural development, playing by the rule and kick out corruption, creating efficient  system that will allow private businesses to come in, following the best practice as done by the rest of the world while  restoring investors’ confidence, integrity and transparency in order to put the world number one sport on proper track in the country.

 

 

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Events

The Grand 70th Birthday Celebration of Jewelry Queen, Chief Jokotade Oni, in Lagos

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By Eric Elezuo

She is by every standard a force to reckon with in the world of jewelleries, and has been in the business for as long as anyone could remember. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Gold Rush, Chief (Mrs) Jokotade Oni, and this the story of how the top member of the society celebrated her three score and ten birthday.

Mrs Oni cuts her birthday cake, surrounded by grandchildren

Hosted at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event began with the heralded arrival of the celebrant and her retinue of well wishers and friends, and was followed immediately by a Thanksgiving Service conducted by the General Overseer of the Trinity Church Pastor Ituah Ighadalo, and his team of pastors.

Celebrant with Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande

In his short exhortation, after the son of the celebrant has presented the reading of the lesson Pastor Ighadalo lauded the achievements of the celebrant in the field of enterprise and provision of welfare to the teeming population of where she operates. He also admonished the congregation to always to count their days as the Bible recommended in other not to forget to give appreciation to the Almighty God.

Chief Oni pose with Aare and Yeye Aare Dele Momodu

With the conclusion of the Service, a grand reception at the same venue started with an opening prayer led by Israel Ayodele. Shortly after, the birthday girl, who had taken a ahort break earlier, made a grandiose re-entry, with members of her family and friends, towing courageously and majestically behind her.

Afterwards, tributes by notable personalities, who are close to the celebrant, including the Chairperson of the Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, were delivered.

Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro and the Momodus

The major highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the huge birthday cake, under the directives of a renowned Economist, who served as Minister of Industry as well as President of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande, amid cheers and applause from the audience.

A photo-op was conducted right before the lovely event, which was planned by ELIZABETH, treated guests to an avalanche of splendid local and continental dishes and choice beverages just as Laolugbenjo Band serenaded guests till fade.

Aare Momodu with DIG Taiwo Lakanu

Among personalities that graced the event were Chairman, Eleganza Group, Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya and wife, Chief (Mrs) Shade Okoya; Alhaji Tajudeen Okoya, Chief Alex Duduyemi, Chief Samuel Adedoyin, Iyalode of Lagos, Alhaja Bintu Tinubu; Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare (Dr.) Dele Momodu and wife Yeye Mobolaji Momodu; and Former Deputy Govover of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro.

Photos: Tunde Bolarinwa

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The Classy Nikkah Ceremonies Between Omobolaji Jamil and Omolara Tijani in Lagos

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By Eric Elezuo

The Monarch Event Centre, venue of the Nikkah services and reception when the duo of Omobolaji Eniola Jamil and his beautiful bride, Omolara Tawakalitu Tijani said heartfelt ‘I dos’ to each other, was an inch above classy, magnificent and adorable. It was not just about the presidential building, but more about the ambience of the environment, the ambivalence of colours and more especially, the smiles that characterized the day.

The events of the day, as planned by Adela Event, which kickstarted at the newly opened Delborough Hotel in Victoria Island, where the lovely couple dressed, and had the first step into royalty amid klieglights from various media of repute, cascaded into a carnival of some sort with their arrival at the marriage venue, where guests and Islamic clerics were already on ground.

Without much ado, renowned Islamic cleric, Alhaji Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello popularly refers as ‘Oniwasi Agbaye’ (Global preacher), set the ball rolling, leading the couple into confessing, affirming and sustaining their unbreakable love for each with the crowd of witnesses echoing amin at every prayer, pronouncement, and declaration. He thereafter, declared the lovebirds man and wife, paving the way for a reception that lasted way into the night, and a celebration of love destined to last a lifetime.

With a short interlude as the newest couple took a break to recreate, the disc jockey held the hall spellbound and rocking with sounds from notable and creative Nigerian artists. The audience couldn’t but roll in ecstasy as the beats made impacts.

At the return of the couples, and under the supervisor of the day’s anchor, Tee A, the families of the bride and groom made separate dramatic entry, dancing to the admiration and encouragement of well wishers roundabout.

Then, it was the turn of the couple to dance in. With the bridal train and the men in suit doing the first encore, the couple danced in in style, cheered loudly by all and sundry, and displaying scintillating dance steps that was the hallmark of their growing up days.

The bride and her train, also took the limelight with a choreographic display, winning the hearts of onlookers, followed by the emotional dance of the bride and her father.

With the dances settled, the chairman of the day, Dr. Akintunde Ayeni, took the stage to declare the event open, and admonished the couple on the basic principles of making a happy home.

“Love and submission win all battles in matrimony. Once you love each other, submit to each other, no barrier will be encountered and nothing shall be impossible to both of you. In fact, you will be able to conquer every from within or without. And again, respect each other, which is very key, in fact, very important, ” Ayeni said.

One of the major highlights of the occasion was the superlative display of one of the most sought after performers from this part of the world, KWAM 1, who rattled the hall with one classic beat after another, getting everyone off their seats, singing along and dancing away.

Another major highlight was the cutting of the gigantic cake, coordinated by a former Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju, popularly know as Headmaster during his hay days.

The guests, apart from the array of entertainment on ground, were treated to sumptuous delicacies comprising continental and local dishes as well as choice beverages.

We wish the Jamils the best of marital union in love, health and prosperity.

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Dignitaries Grace Grand Opening of Luxurious Delborough Hotel in Lagos (Photos)

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By Eric Elezuo

The newest and grandest luxury hospitality nest in the city of Lagos, Delborough Hotel in highbrow Victoria Island, was declared on Saturday, November 25, 2023, with high dignitaries in attendance.

Among those who attended the grand opening, or visited at one point or another are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, the Etsu Nupe Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe among many others.

Delborough Hotel is owned by Stanley Uzochukwu, and is run by a board of directors including constitional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN.

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