Sports
NNWL, Puzzles Group In N20m Sponsorship Deal
The Nigeria Nationwide
League (NNWL) has secured a three-year sponsorship deal worth N20 million with a private company, Puzzles Group Limited.
The deal, expected to take effect from the 2014/2015 NNWL season, has a two-year renewal option designed to take grassroots football to the next level.
Mr Sola Ogunnowo, the Executive Secretary of the NNWL, disclosed this on Wednesday to newsmen in Abuja.
“The sponsorship will also see the establishment of a website and electronic portal for the league.
“This portal will be an electronic market for Nationwide footballers where scouts, agents, coaches and managers can enquire, share and exchange information about NNWL players,’’ Ogunnowo said.
According to Ogunnowo, the deal is the outcome of a meeting held in Abuja on November 28 between the league managers and the management of the company.
He noted that clubs in the NNWL were eager to do business with the company for them to have full benefit of their sponsorship.
“We thank the Puzzles Group for accepting to work with us and I want to believe that this is the first step we are taking in rebranding the Nationwide League.
“Any league without a sponsor is not yet a brand; we hope that the company will live up to expectation being the first company to come out to sponsor NNWL.
“It has never happened since the inception of football in the country and we are happy that it is happening now,’’ he said.
The NNWL scribe further said that sponsorship would open a new vista in the development of grassroots football in the country.
He said, “football in Nigeria is the largest employer of labour and we believe that the sponsors will gain more sponsoring football rather than the “white-elephant projects’’ they embark on as their corporate social responsibility.
“We are looking towards unveiling the sponsors in January 2015 during the NNWL congress but this must be after the legal teams of both parties have finalised on the deal.
Ogunnowo urged other corporate organisations to follow suite noting that about 15 companies were approached before the current deal was struck by their marketer, Premium Sports.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.