Billionaire Tony Elumelu set to buy football club

Nigerian billionaire, Tony Elumelu has shown interest in buying a team in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Mr Elumelu decided to invest into football after conversations with Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development.

The 61-year-old Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Transcorp, and Heirs Holdings, said it was possible to buy the team when the topic of private club ownership in Nigeria came up.

He responded to a message posted on X by user @LawyerDayo, saying that large Nigerian firms should consider owning league clubs as a means of implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The X user said: “Can we get the President and Ministry of Sport to weigh in on the big corporations in Nigeria to buy at least one league club as part of CSR? Imagine Dangote buys Kano Pillars, BUA buys Kwara United, Elumelu acquires Rivers United, and Geregu takes over 3SC. Imagine the competition?”

Responding, Elumelu said: "This is a nice idea."

Elumelu further disclosed that the minister had reached out to him and other popular and influential people across the country to discuss the viability of making these acquisitions to grow the league.

He said, "The Sports Minister, Senator John Enoh @OwanEnoh, is already thinking along this line and has approached me, and we are already evaluating viability."

Tony Elumelu is among the richest persons in Nigeria and Africa.

He has invested in financial services, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, power, oil, and gas.

BEB