The Group Managing Director of GTI, Abubakar Lawal, has reiterated the desire of his company to ensure the total restructuring and repositioning of Nigerian football as seen in other climes.
Speaking after being honoured with an award in the just concluded Newstap/SWAN 5-Star Award ceremony in Lagos, Lawal said the recognition given to him by the organisers of the event will spur him and GTI to do more for the benefit of the sports ecosystem.
” I’m delighted that the umbrella body of sports journalists in this country, SWAN and a leading online media platform, Newstap recognized our huge investment towards reviving the Nigeria Premier Football League and the President Federation Cup. For us in GTI, this award is too dear to us and that was why I came here with my lovely wife and the GTI team to witness this auspicious occasion.
“This award will spur us to do more for the country’s elite league and our President Federation Cup because GTI is keen in uplifting Nigerian football,” he began. “Today, is a historic day in GTI Group and I thank all who made this event possible as we have just witnessed a fantastic event that is full of glamour.”
Abubakar used the opportunity to thank the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko for his efforts at reviving sports since he took office and also believing in the vision of GTI at restructuring the beautiful game in Nigeria.
“I want to thank the NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi for their support which culminated in the emergence of GTI into our sports ecosystem. I also thank the media for believing in our dream of providing a lasting solution to the problems confronting our elite league and President Federation Cup.
“Our project on the NPFL is in three phases and I want to use this opportunity to state that as strategic partners to the NPFL, GTI has successfully completed our first phase of intervention in the elite league. Today, NPFL is visible globally and enjoys improved organisation cum management.
“We are now into the second phase in which we will see our clubs being managed more professionally with improved welfare for the players. This will help stem the mass exodus of our quality players to many obscure leagues in the world.
“Finally, I want to say kudos to other awardees tonight and Hon. Kunle Soname for setting the benchmark for other NPFL clubs to emulate when it comes to club management. For us at GTI, the best is yet to come,” he added.
