08 October 2013
Nigeria: IMG Signs 20 Years Exclusive Pact With NBBF
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company have entered into an exclusive agreement to develop Nigerian basketball. The pact has other strategic local partners. The IMG Worldwide announced yesterday that it has signed an exclusive historic agreement with the Nigerian Basketball Federation to develop and grow Nigerian basketball, including on a professional level, for up to 20 years. Exact terms of the deal was not disclosed.
IMG said it entered into the deal since the NBBF is an affiliated member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the official governing body of basketball in Nigeria, Africa's largest country by population, and one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
IMG said its local partnership group is led by Tayo Amusan, a businessmen in Nigeria and a ground-breaking entrepreneur. Amusan is owner, Chairman, and Managing Director of Persianas Nigeria Limited, a luxury residential, retail, entertainment, hospitality, and commercial development company.
According to NBBF president, Tijjani Umar the deal will help to harness Nigeria's hidden potentials in basketball. "Nigeria has always had the potential to be a dominant power in basketball, one of the two great global games. But we can only reap what we sow. Today we begin investing in our long term success as a basketball power, with this step in partnership with IMG, a pioneer in world sport, bringing to bear its industry-leading expertise and strategic planning to help unlock Nigeria's true long-term potential." Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said "We could not be happier to have IMG, one of the most admired and respected companies in the world, invest its time and resources in Nigeria. We share a common vision for the sport of basketball in this country, and for the country itself, primarily based on the greatest strength Nigeria has - it's people."
Bobby Sharma, IMG Senior Vice President, Global Basketball & Strategic Initiatives who signed the agreement, along with Amusan, Umar, and the Minister in Abuja said. "We're excited to join with the NBBF to develop and grow basketball in the 7th largest country in the world. We expect this collaboration will change the future of the sport in Nigeria, as well as this quickly growing region, which is already a hotbed of basketball avidity and talent."
Mike Dolan, IMG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "Sub-saharan Africa is one of the largest and fastest growing economic regions in the world today, led by Nigeria and its 170 million population, the largest and youngest on the continent. Nigeria is one of the great sporting nations in the world and has already produced some of the greatest athletes across a variety of sports. We believe there is an enormous appetite for basketball on the continent, and led by the economic and cultural force of Nigeria, we have only begun to scratch the surface of what's possible."
IMG said it entered into the deal since the NBBF is an affiliated member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the official governing body of basketball in Nigeria, Africa's largest country by population, and one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
IMG said its local partnership group is led by Tayo Amusan, a businessmen in Nigeria and a ground-breaking entrepreneur. Amusan is owner, Chairman, and Managing Director of Persianas Nigeria Limited, a luxury residential, retail, entertainment, hospitality, and commercial development company.
According to NBBF president, Tijjani Umar the deal will help to harness Nigeria's hidden potentials in basketball. "Nigeria has always had the potential to be a dominant power in basketball, one of the two great global games. But we can only reap what we sow. Today we begin investing in our long term success as a basketball power, with this step in partnership with IMG, a pioneer in world sport, bringing to bear its industry-leading expertise and strategic planning to help unlock Nigeria's true long-term potential." Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said "We could not be happier to have IMG, one of the most admired and respected companies in the world, invest its time and resources in Nigeria. We share a common vision for the sport of basketball in this country, and for the country itself, primarily based on the greatest strength Nigeria has - it's people."
Bobby Sharma, IMG Senior Vice President, Global Basketball & Strategic Initiatives who signed the agreement, along with Amusan, Umar, and the Minister in Abuja said. "We're excited to join with the NBBF to develop and grow basketball in the 7th largest country in the world. We expect this collaboration will change the future of the sport in Nigeria, as well as this quickly growing region, which is already a hotbed of basketball avidity and talent."
Mike Dolan, IMG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "Sub-saharan Africa is one of the largest and fastest growing economic regions in the world today, led by Nigeria and its 170 million population, the largest and youngest on the continent. Nigeria is one of the great sporting nations in the world and has already produced some of the greatest athletes across a variety of sports. We believe there is an enormous appetite for basketball on the continent, and led by the economic and cultural force of Nigeria, we have only begun to scratch the surface of what's possible."
# posted by afrbk : 12:40
