The Executive Director of GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd, Nelson Ine, has stated that Nigeria’s premier football league could attract more than N200bn in investments over the next five years.
He made the remarks during a webinar held on Friday at GTI’s Lagos headquarters, highlighting investment opportunities across the nation’s football ecosystem. The event carried the theme: “Grassroots Football Investment and Its Impact on Youths.”
According to Ine, with reforms and proper structural development, the Nigeria Premier Football League could see a significant increase in its commercial value, drawing both local and international investors.
“The league could be valued at over N200bn, approximately $150m, if ongoing reforms and structured funding initiatives continue,” he explained. “We are confident that in another five years the NPFL will be worth well over N200bn. The potential is enormous, and the opportunity is clear.”
Ine highlighted that the initiative is being driven through the Nigerian Football Fund, a specialised investment vehicle designed to channel private capital into football-related assets.
He said the fund provides an avenue for Nigerians and other investors to participate in the long-term growth of the country’s football industry.
“The objective is to invest in sports assets that are economically viable and capable of transforming football into a profitable sector,” he said.
The GTI executive noted that Nigeria has the population, talent, and passion necessary to develop a thriving football economy. However, he stressed that the sector needs to move from a largely social mindset to a business-driven approach.
“If you do not invest, do not expect. Nigeria has not invested enough in football, yet expectations from the sector remain very high,” Ine said.
He also emphasised the importance of supportive government policies in attracting private investment. Tax incentives, sound regulatory frameworks, and strong corporate governance, he said, would help protect investments and boost investor confidence.
According to Ine, investment in football goes beyond matchday revenue and has broader economic potential. Well-structured football clubs, he explained, can create jobs for players, coaches, medical staff, administrators, and other support personnel.
He further identified merchandising, ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights as key revenue streams capable of strengthening clubs’ financial sustainability.
Ine added that the Nigerian Football Fund operates under the country’s capital market regulatory framework, ensuring investor protection. The structure also allows for partial diversification into money market instruments and equities to enhance financial stability.
“The initiative gives Nigerians an opportunity to participate in the transformation of the country’s football industry,” he said.
He also noted that the fund would support grassroots football development and could potentially expand to include women’s football and other sports in the future. Nigerians, he said, can take advantage of this opportunity through the GTI investment app.
Ine stressed the need for stronger investment and governance at the grassroots level to unlock youth development opportunities and strengthen Nigeria’s sports economy.
“A structured transition programme is needed to harness young talents and build a sustainable pool of professional players for clubs across the country,” he said. “There is a need for consistent capacity building and adoption of modern technology to transform the sector,” he added.
The webinar featured presentations by Head of Research at GTI, Abiodun Ogunniyi, while Coordinator of GTI Finance Academy, Tewogbade Abegunde, moderated the session.
