Emma Jemegah

An investment banker, Lawal Abubakar, has decided to lead the campaign to force government at all levels to hands off sports management, especially football, and create the enabling environment for private and corporate entities to take over.

Abubakar, who is the Group Managing Director of GTI Securities Limited, said at a media parley in Lagos yesterday that he was ready to lead a campaign that will see more involvement of private and corporate bodies in the promotion and development of football, adding that government has no reason managing football other than providing the enabling environment for private participate.

“Sports, especially football is big business, it belongs to the people and government has no reason managing it. Sadly, in Nigeria, government is dominating the space, but this is the best time take it back and hand it over to the people,” the GTI boss said.

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He added that his company, GTI, is ready to stand up for a cause that will see the people retrieve what belongs to them.

“Nigeria is a virgin land of opportunities for football to grow. GTI is committed to the football economy, we want to develop a vibrant football economy and the only way is to join the people to take it back from government,” he added.

The GMD stressed that apart from oil, football has earned Nigeria accolades, saying Nigeria has no reason to be poor if the opportunities inherent in football are well harnessed.