Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria(FRCN) has bagged a deal with the Nigerian premier football league to broadcast the NPFL games on national radio, followed by memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two organisations in Abuja.
The agreement will see that FRCN covers their live matches, provides commentary, analysis, and interviews with players, coaches, and league officials
NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, said that the partnership will be a game-changer for Nigerian football.
He also added that the partnership is expected to increase the league’s popularity, attract sponsorships, and enhance fan engagement, ultimately contributing to the growth of professional football in Nigeria.
Elegbeleye emphasised that working with FRCN will bring the NPFL closer to millions of football fans, especially those in rural areas who rely on radio for sports updates.
In his words “Television is what we call direct-to-home. You have to be home to watch television. But with radio, you can be anywhere, on your farmland, in your office, or on the road, and still follow live updates. And know what is going on everywhere in the country and the rest of the world.
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“Our football ecosystem needs this relationship with the Federal Radio Corporation to ensure the entire country listens to our athletes on match days. This will promote the league and boost Nigeria’s football industry.”
NPFL Chairman further stressed the importance and the role radio commentary played in the past, helping fans familiarize themselves with local players and clubs.
He added, “Back in the day, people knew our players by name because of live commentary. When you don’t run commentaries, there’s no way fans can recognise footballers. But when a player’s name is mentioned frequently, he becomes well-known.
🚨A deal to broadcast the NPFL on national radio was penned Thursday with the FRCN following an MOU signed by the two organisations in Abuja.
The agreement will see FRCN provide live match commentary, analysis, and interviews with players, coaches, and league officials#NPFL25 pic.twitter.com/rp1ZX9fX7C
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“This is crucial for marketing our players, clubs, and the league itself, which is indeed a national asset. I’m proud to say we have achieved a lot in a short time. The Nigerian league is now rated higher than before, and more local players are being included in the national team.”
In his remarks, the Director-General of FRCN, Mohammed Bulama, reaffirmed the corporation’s dedication to reviving football enthusiasm in Nigeria.
He said: “The history of sports in Nigeria, sports as a unifying factor, and sports as a catalyst for the overall development of Nigeria and Nigerians. Indeed, the history of sports development in Nigeria, as well as the promotion of national unity.
“Cannot be complete without the mention of Radio Nigeria and its iconic sports commentators over the years, who worked hard to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians, immortalised our sporting icons, and put Nigerian sports on the global stage.”
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“Nigerians would often put on their television only for visuals, while muting it to listen to enigmatic commentaries on radio. This was a period when Radio Nigeria dominated the sports commentary scene, driving national football enthusiasm to unparalleled heights.”
However, he expressed grief that a decline in football commentary on radio contributed to the drop in local football’s popularity, as many fans turned their attention to foreign leagues like the English Premier League.
Noting that “It is to arrest all this decline, and put Nigerian football back on an upward trajectory, that the NPFL and the FRCN are getting back into this strategic partnership, aimed at bringing radio football commentary back.”
