NFF, NTDC seal pact on sports tourism

The Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation have sealed an agreement to promote and market Nigeria’s vast tourism products and potential within and outside the country.

“This is a great opportunity for two of the biggest windows available to the nation internally and internationally to collaborate on promoting the nation’s tourism potential and achieve the goal of positioning our dear nation as the preferred Sports Tourism destination for Nigerians and foreigners,” NFF President, Aminu Maigari said.

Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo added: “I am excited at the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding(MOU). Nigeria football is presently on a high domestically and internationally, and we are happy to collaborate with the NFF to achieve our vision.”

Nigeria football had hit new heights at both domestic and international fronts in the past two years, with the Aminu Maigari administration credited for some ingenious steps and policy decisions that had turned things around for the better.

Under the terms of the agreement, the NTDC shall endorse NFF as a sports tourism partner for domestic and international sports tourism, grant NFF reasonable rights to branding of NTDC events, publicize NFF during NTDC tourism events and promote sports tourism at all local and international football matches, starting with the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

On its part, the NFF shall facilitate within its ability the hosting of international matches in Nigeria to encourage foreigners to visit Nigeria, publicize NTDC during local and international football matches, provide free promotional materials for NTDC representatives during football events, assist NTDC to market and promote Nigeria tourism at local and international levels and assist NTDC to facilitate sponsorship for sports tourism promotion.