Zenith Bank Splashes N35m on NBBF for 2016 Women League

Zenith Bank Plc, Thursday, presented N35m Cheque to the Nigeria Basket Ball Federation (NBBF) for the sponsorship of the 2016 National Women Basket Ball League which the Bank has been sponsoring for the past 12 years.

The Group Managing Director / Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Peter Amangbo while doing the presentation at a Press Conference at the Bank’s Corporate Head Office on Victoria Island, renewed the Bank’s commitment to the continuous sponsorship of the league; which he said, has provided a platform for “our young ladies to actualize their potentials”.

Speaking further, he commended the NBBF for what he described as “wonderful performance over the years” describing the NBBF organization of the league as “amazing” and “highly commendable”. He equally commended the media for “excellent performance” but tasked them of more in-depth coverage; stressing that no sports can develop without the active collaboration of the media with other stakeholders.

On his part, the President of the Nigeria Basket Ball Federation, Alhaji Tijani Umar lauded the Bank for “12 years of remarkable relationship”, noting that Zenith, through the sponsorship, has helped in “touching, building and impacting the lives of young Nigerians”.

While appealing to the Bank for the renewal of the sponsorship contract as the ‘three-year-guaranteed sponsorship’, entered into 2014, expires this year; Umar urged the Bank to look beyond the Zenith League to support other NBBF outings, particularly the National Women Team; promising “a bigger and expanded league” this year.

The championship, in its 12^th year under Zenith sponsorship, is played in three phases with this year’s edition scheduled to open in Abuja March 18, from where it would move to Asaba for the second phase; while the grand finale will be hosted at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, later in May.

The female league has grown exponentially since the financial powerhouse took over the sponsorship 12 years ago. From the initial 5 teams that participated in the 2004 edition, the league has grown to accommodate over 18 teams drawn from different parts of the federation that are expected to vie for honours in the 2016 edition. Similarly, the Bank has grown the sponsorship fee from the initial N7.5m in 2004 to N35m in 2006, with other noticeable features that have adorned the female league over the years.