Events

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

Published

7 years ago

June 10, 2018

Eric

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.

Events

Oyo Crowns New Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Eric

Oba Abimbola Owoade has finally been crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.

Owoade succeeds the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who died on April 22, 2022, at the age of 83.

The staff of office had earlier been presented to the new king by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, in January.

He completed the compulsory 21-day traditional rites known as Oro Ipebi last Saturday, March 29.

The coronation event took place on Saturday at Oliveth Baptist High School in Oyo, where Governor Seyi Makinde led a host of dignitaries, including notable Nigerians.

Dignitaries present at the coronation included the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; and Aare Oona Kankanfo of Yoruba, Iba Gani Adams, among others.

His coronation marked the beginning of the process of enthroning a new king for the ancient and one of the most revered stool in the Yoruba Kingdom.

Today’s event also signaled the beginning of a new era for the sons and daughters of Oyo Town, the State and the entire Yoruba race home and abroad.

Events

Family, Friends Give Dr. Doyin Okupe Befitting Funeral in Lagos and Iperu Remo

Published

3 weeks ago

March 29, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Tears, amid gratitude for a life well lived, were the mood at the two-day obsequies for for former special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Omooba Dr. Adedoyin Ajibike Okupe-Agbonmagbe, known simply as Dr. Doyin Okupe, when friends, political associates and well wishers gathered in Lagos and Iperu-Remo, Ogun State to pay to pay their last respects.

The politician, who died earlier in February, was honoured with a Commendation Service of Songs at the Trinity House Church, Oniru, Lagos, where Pastor Itua Ighodalo supervised proceedings.

In his sermon, following tributes and bible readings, Pastor Ighodalo eulogised the lifetime of the deceased while thanking God that he served humanity in every capacity he found himself while alive as well as dedicated his life to God while he walked the earthly path.

With key personalities including the Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, speaking glowing about the deceased the service came to a musical end, and the corpse was moved in a motorcade to his hometown, Iperu Remo, where a Wake service was observed later in the evening at the Agbonmagbe Castle home of the late Okupe.

A lying-in-state ceremony followed the next morning where friends, family members and well wishers marched pass the casket, in a last view and payment of last respect.

Thereafter, all roads led the Westly Methodist Church, on Akesan Road for the funeral service, where Reverend Adeseun Atanda in his sermon also extoled the deceased service to humanity and for giving his life God.

Among the many programmers observed at the service was the recognition of his family, who were prayed for blessed as the body made its final journey to the Anglican Church Cemetery, where the remains were finally led to rest, amid weeping and exhortation.

Guests were thereafter treated to a sumptuous reception at the Apostolic School Hall, on Akesan Road, with ceaseless flow of local and intercontinental dishes as well as choice beverages supervised by Cloud9Events, just as Faith Musical Band entertained the guests with sonorous sounds that reverted the mood of agony.

Among high profile dignitaries at the event were Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, Tunde Rahman, Bayo Onanuga, Aare Dele Momodu, Mr. Peter Obi, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, Pastor Dotun Ojelabi, Prince Bisi Olatilo and Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu.

Photos: Ken Ehimen

Events

80th Birthday/25th Coronation Anniversary: High Society Celebrates Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun

Published

2 months ago

February 23, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The playground of the Ogunmodede Secondary School, Epe, Lagos, was a beehive of activities on Saturday as it played host to the epoch making 80th birthday and 25th coronation anniversary celebrations of the paramount ruler of Epe Division, the Oloja of Epe, His Royal Majesty Oba Kamorodeen Ishola Animashaun.

The event was a conglomeration of the high and mighty in the society cutting across politics, religion, tradition and enterprise, as well as ethnic orientation.

Celebrated all week, the city of Epe witnessed the presence of the creme de of la creme of the society led by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who in his earlier goodwill message via his social media handle to the monarch, hinted that the octogenarian, who had reign a quarter of a century over his people, deserves every accolades that he gets.

“Oba Animashaun deserves all the accolades for his impactful and purposeful life, especially in the last 25 years of his reign as the Oloja of Epeland. He is the epitome of dedication and selflessness in community service,” the governor wrote in part.

During the week, just before the mother of all mega parties, marking the grand finale of the series of events, the monarch in his benevolence had sponsored a free medical outreach at the Epe General Hospital in addition to the distribution of food palliatives to indigenes of the land as a step to checkmate the current economic reality. The distribution of the palliative was conducted simultaneously across four areas in Epe to avoid stampedes.

Thereafter, a coronation lecture themed, The Future of Traditional Institutions in Nigeria: A Reframing of Current Realities, was held at Jubilee Chalet, Epe, and was delivered by a former Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Olarenwaju Fagbohun on Tuesday.

Also at the lecture, the former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, commended Oba Animashaun for his unwavering commitment to transforming his community into the next commercial hub in Lagos.

The monarch also conferred chieftaincy titles on three individuals in the community on Friday.

The following day was a pot pourri of activities with a line up of A-list dignitaries gracing the ancient city of Epe.

The event that was devoid of much speech, but rooted in merriment and royal interaction, was anchored by standuo comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, with levels of musical entertainment from the ageless Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Queen Salawa Abeni and Beejay Sax. Each of the performers gave a standard that kept the royal guests mostly on their feet as they generated to sounds of yesteryear as well as seranades that energises the consciousness.

Among the cynosure of the occasion was the spellbounding ambience of the hall as Sapphires Event unleashed decorative class on the facility, giving colourful touches, with gold radiating superiority.

The expertise of Dew Drop Cakes was visible as the anniversary cake told the story of opulence and royalty in its elegant multiple steps, with reflexes and shades of gold.

Among the notable individuals, whose presence dignified the event were Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwolu, and his wife, Ibijoke Sanwolu; Deputy Governor Babafemi Hamzat, Mr. Hakeem Muri Okunola, Chief Rasaq Okoya & wife, Shade, Justice Sola Oguntade, HRH Oba Oniru & his Olori, Mariam, HRM Oba Saheed Elegushi, HRM Oba Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu; HRM Oba Semiu Orimadegun, the Kasali of Igbogbo; Olorogun Sunny Kuku, Hon Abiodun Tobun, Otunba Lekan Osifeso & wife, Princess Vicky Hastrup, Aare Gani Adams and Otunba Lai Oriowo.

The occasion spared no expense as guests were treated to sumptuous local and intercontinental delicacies as well as choice beverages.