NPFL Inaugurates Commercial Reforms Committee to Drive Revenue Growth

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has taken a major step toward strengthening its commercial operations with the inauguration of a Committee on Commercial Reforms, appointing Dr. Alhassan Yakmut as chairman, Sporting Lagos Chairman Godwin Enakhena as member/secretary, and GTI representative Nelson Ine among its members.

The appointments were ratified on Friday in Abuja during a high-level strategic meeting convened by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The session brought together members of the NPFL Board, chairmen of NPFL clubs, and club general managers as part of efforts to reposition the domestic league ahead of the 2026/27 season.

According to the NPFL Board, the committee was constituted to leverage the diverse expertise of its members in sports administration, sports marketing, media, and commercial development to reshape the league’s commercial framework.

Committee to Drive Commercial Transformation

The committee has been tasked with developing strategies that will make the NPFL financially sustainable, commercially attractive, and globally competitive.

Its terms of reference include conducting a comprehensive review of the league’s existing sponsorship, marketing, and commercial structures to identify gaps and areas for improvement. The committee is also expected to recommend new and sustainable revenue streams beyond traditional funding sources.

In addition, members will develop strategies to increase the value of sponsorships, improve broadcast rights, strengthen the league’s digital presence, expand merchandising opportunities, and maximize commercial rights.

The committee will also focus on innovative fan engagement initiatives aimed at enhancing the NPFL brand while recommending institutional and policy reforms that will professionalize the league’s commercial operations and reduce dependence on external funding.

As part of its assignment, the committee will benchmark successful commercial models from leading football leagues around the world and adapt relevant best practices to suit the Nigerian football landscape.

The committee has been given three weeks to submit a comprehensive report containing actionable recommendations to the NPFL Board.

Committee Members

The Committee on Commercial Reforms comprises:

Dr. Alhassan S. Yakmut — Chairman
Danladi Ibrahim, Esq. — Member
Taiwo Salami — Member
Davidson Owumi — Member
Nelson Ine — Member
Godwin Enakhena — Member/Secretary

The NPFL Board expressed confidence in the committee, stating that the members’ combined experience and expertise will play a vital role in delivering the commercial transformation needed to position the league for long-term growth and competitiveness.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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