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GTI assures transparency in football ecosystem

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Strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited has assured investors and football stakeholders in the

country that they are committed to laying a strong foundation and transparent football ecosystem in the country using The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) as the vehicle in achieving this laudable dream.

TNFF Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, stated this in Lagos on Tuesday.

He revealed that GTI is committing lots of material and financial resources toward ensuring that NPFL enjoys robust financial support in order to become self-sustaining with necessary measures to ensure transparency in all its dealings with investors,

sponsors and other partners.

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“The NPFL is currently enjoying a lot of publicity from the media that has been at the forefront of the enlightenment campaign.

“We are also aware that expectations are very high, that is why we hit the ground running using the current abridge league as a test case and ensuring that we put in all the necessary security measures to uphold transparency.

“For example, indemnities of match officials and other critical stakeholders connected to the league are being

administered seamlessly, using international best practices as our guide.

“As a company, we are strongly committed to a very transparent football ecosystem which is the best way to restore confidence in our sponsors and investors.

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“No wonder that is why many investors are keying into the TNFF project and stakeholders of football in Nigeria are also embracing GTI strategy of taking our beautiful game to the next level,” Ekejiuba said.

“NPFL is an asset that belongs to Nigerians and the effort of GTI at this stage is to encourage more Nigerians to become unit holders as early as possible before foreign

investors will mop up the remaining units of the N5.0 billion that is expected to be raised through the funds. However, just as we assured the media on February 20, 2023, during the parley in our corporate headquarters in Lagos, we will always have our annual reports made available at the end of every year to our stakeholders.

“The TNFF investors are poised to enjoy their Returns on Investments without any administrative

bottleneck,” he assured.

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Ekejiuba also reaffirmed that sponsors cum investors are embracing the TNFF and the share value of each unit of the fund is appreciating gradually.

“I want to further reveal that we are in serious discussions with some notable sponsors who want to throw-in their weight behind the league because of the recent positive developments recorded so far.

“In this regard, it is essential that due process is followed

and GTI has assured them of its determination to reposition NPFL with great honesty, transparency and accountability which is the watchword of our company as a renowned financial institution.

“GTI will inform the media of our breakthrough at the appropriate time. We want to put an end to the exodus of our talented footballers abroad to some very obscure football-playing nations of the world by laying a solid foundation back home for NPFL to thrive through private sector funding; thereby complementing the efforts of government in this regard,” Ekejiuba concluded.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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NOC Scribe Popoola Praises Consistency of Sportsville Recognition Award

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The Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, has commended the organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Award for sustaining the initiative and maintaining consistency since its inception.

Popoola, a former international hockey player, remarked on Thursday night after receiving a briefing on preparations for this year’s ceremony scheduled for March 28 at the Lagos Country Club.

Speaking during the briefing, Popoola praised the organisers for keeping the awards running successfully over the years.

“I must commend you guys for doing a great job. I can’t believe this is already the sixth edition. I am glad about the sustenance of this laudable initiative,” he said.

He noted that consistency remains a major challenge for many initiatives in Nigeria, adding that the Sportsville Awards have distinguished themselves by staying true to their vision.

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“One thing I have seen and observed in Nigeria is that only a few organisations like yours are consistent when it comes to pursuing their vision. I am excited that Sportsville is making all the difference because it is consistency that builds big brands globally,” Popoola added.

In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville, Frank Ilaboya, thanked the NOC secretary general for recognising what he described as the organisation’s modest contribution to the nation’s sports ecosystem.

Ilaboya, a former chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State chapter, said the organisers remain committed to building a credible platform that celebrates excellence in Nigerian sports.

“We are here for the long haul. The vision is clear—to build a brand that is not only credible but one that will stand the test of time. I am very positive that the Sportsville Special Recognition Award will achieve this status in a few years to come,” he said.

The sixth edition of the awards ceremony will be chaired by the Chairman of Brila Media Group, Larry Izamoje, one of Nigeria’s foremost sports media entrepreneurs.

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Sportsville Special Recognition Award Sets March 28 Date for Sixth Edition in Lagos

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Ilaboya Explains The Essence Of Sportsville Special Recognition Awards -
Frank Ilaboya

Organisers of one of Nigeria’s most glamorous and credible sports award ceremonies have announced March 28 as the date for this year’s edition of the Sportsville Special Recognition Award.

According to a statement signed by Harry Iwuala, Chairman of the 2026 Award Committee, the ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 28, at the prestigious Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Iwuala, who also serves as Media Director of the Nigeria Premier Football League, described the announcement as the culmination of months of meticulous planning and a painstaking selection process.

“We’re delighted to announce a date for this year’s ceremony following a painstaking planning and selection process. It has been months of planning and preparations, and I am glad that we have finally picked a date for the ceremony,” Iwuala said.

He assured stakeholders that the list of honourees — to be unveiled in the coming weeks — would reflect the award’s core values of integrity and credibility.

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“We will be unveiling the personalities and corporate organisations to be celebrated very soon, but I can assure you that they are men and women who have done a good job in sports development in the country.

“Our selection process was thorough to keep faith with the Award motto, which is credibility,” added Iwuala, who has also headed the Media Committee of the successful Niger Delta Games in successive editions.

Sixth Edition Promises Innovation

Speaking on behalf of Sportsville Communication Ltd, the organisers of the award, Chief Executive Officer Frank Ilaboya, said preparations are already in top gear for what promises to be an innovative sixth edition.

“This year will be our sixth edition, and I am happy with the impact and progress the award has made in the country,” Ilaboya stated.

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He emphasised that credibility remains the cornerstone of the awards.

“One thing that gives me joy is the credibility of the award we give out every year. We ensure that those truly deserving get the award. And we are determined to keep doing this year after year.”

According to Ilaboya, awards will be presented in seven categories this year:

  • Sports Icon
  • Sports Personality
  • Sports Transformative Category
  • Special Recognition Category
  • Achievers Category
  • Innovative Category
  • Sports Facilities Category

He added that the long-term ambition is to elevate the Sportsville Special Recognition Award into Africa’s most glamorous and respected sports honours platform.

“We will keep on working hard year in and year out until we achieve our target of making the Sportsville Special Recognition Award the best and most glamorous not only in Nigeria but in Africa.

“The past five years have proven to be exciting, and the level of plaudits from the awardees and non-awardees alike shows that we are on the right course,” Ilaboya said.

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Celebrating Two Decades of Sports Broadcasting

The Sportsville Special Recognition Award was initiated five years ago as part of activities marking 20 years of continuous broadcast of Sportsville as an independent producer of sports programming in Nigeria.

Today, Sportsville stands as one of the longest-running independent sports shows on air in sub-Saharan Africa — a testament to resilience, consistency, and commitment to sports development.

With the March 28 date now confirmed, anticipation is building within Nigeria’s sporting community as administrators, athletes, corporate sponsors and media personalities look forward to another evening of celebration at Lagos Country Club.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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Ray Ekpu Prize Committee, NUJ to Host Investigative Journalism Workshop in Uyo

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Journalists in Akwa Ibom State and beyond are set to converge in Uyo for a one-day workshop on investigative journalism organised by the Committee for the Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The workshop, scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, will take place at the NUJ Auditorium, Information Drive, Uyo, beginning at 10 a.m.

Organisers say the training is designed to strengthen investigative reporting skills among journalists, enhance ethical standards, and deepen the culture of accountability journalism in Nigeria.

The keynote lecture will be delivered by Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Abuja. Aiyetan, a respected investigative journalist and media development expert, is expected to share insights on contemporary investigative techniques, data-driven reporting, and navigating legal and safety challenges in the field.

Supporting the keynote address will be Ibanga Isine, an investigative reporting veteran based in Uyo. Isine will provide practical perspectives drawn from years of field experience, focusing on story development, sourcing, and sustaining impactful investigations at the local level.

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Chairman of the Committee for the Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism, Nsikak Essien, FNGE, described the workshop as part of ongoing efforts to promote excellence and integrity in journalism. He noted that investigative reporting remains a critical pillar of democratic governance and public accountability.

Also lending his voice to the initiative, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the NUJ, Nsibiet John, urged journalists in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen their skills and reinforce professional standards.

The Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism was instituted to encourage rigorous, fact-based reporting and to honour outstanding contributions to investigative journalism in Nigeria.

Participants are expected to engage in interactive sessions, discussions, and practical exchanges to equip them with tools to uncover hidden truths and report with courage and responsibility.

The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing a new generation of investigative journalists capable of holding institutions accountable and advancing public interest reporting in the country.

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