Vmobile N35m lifeline for basketball

Speaking during the event, Obinna Ariwodo, Head of Division, PR, Events and Sponsorships, Vmobile Nigeria, pointed out that the company’s interest in the game is part of its commitment to making a difference in its environment and supporting youths in the nation. According to him, “resources for sponsorships should not be channeled into Soccer and Athletics alone, we need to support our youths in other fields and revive the league, so that Nigerians can be proud of it.”

Continuing, Ariwodo added that Vmobile’s involvement will go far beyond the league date as the company intends to make a difference in the game and create the right environment for youths to get interested in the sports. He also said that the company plans for far bigger investments that will further reposition the game of Basket Ball in the coming years

In his own speech, Muktar Kaleh, league Director, NBBF, announced that one of the major activities that will take place prior to the much expected premier league is the Vmobile Challenge. This, according to him is a form of an abridged league. Rolling out the details of the league, he said that the Vmobile Challenge will start from July, 21st to August 10th and will cut across three locations in the country; Kaduna, Lagos and Abuja. The first phase, he said, is designed to shape up the players and engage them in activities that will prepare them for the main league starting in November.

As part of its involvement in the coming premier league Vmobile will take responsibility for the maintenance and equipment of the wrecked facilities in the basket ball courts in the different locations and will upgrade the facilities to international standards.

In its four years of operation in Nigeria, Vmobile has been consistent in its commitment to supporting sporting activities in the nation and has made immense contributions to the national teams. Only recently, it launched a zonal basketball referee’s clinic in Abuja which has become a One-Stop-Shop for referees and team members.

Other sports which Vmobile Nigeria has supported in the country since it began operation four year ago include: Golf and Polo. After the national qualifiers, which took place in different locations across the country, the winner of Vmobile Corporate Golf Challenge represented Nigeria at the World Corporate Golf Challenge in La Manga, Spain. Also, the company has consistently been sponsoring the game of Polo in four different locations across Nigeria. These include: Vmobile/5th Chukker International Polo Tournament, Vmobile/Ibadan Challenge, Vmobile/Niger Delta Polo, and Vmobile/Abraka Polo.

With Vmobile’s N35m lifeline and the upgrading of facilities to be carried out before the commencement of the game, the premier league, which was last sponsored by Seven-UP Bottling Company in 2001 with the sum of N7.5m is poised to regaining it lost glory.