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Plans
are underway to hold an international football exhibition in Nigeria.
The event, which will be the first of its kind in Nigeria, is scheduled
to hold on December 9, 2010 at Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Lagos.

Themed Nigeria International Football Expo 2010, the event is being organised by Fair Play Marketing and Vantgarde Limited.

Speaking at a press
briefing yesterday to herald the event, Justin Ofor, Managing
Director/CEO of Fair play said the expo will involve a business forum,
an exhibition and football carnival with a networking lunch held where
ideas and abilities will meet to fuel and create a vibrant football
market in Nigeria.

“The idea of the
Nigerian International Football Expo is to give government,
stakeholders, administrators, clubs, coaches, players, fans, sponsors
and companies in the football industry or related businesses from all
over the world, an opportunity to come together to talk football, learn
football, network football and do business with football in Nigeria,”
Ofor said.

Ofor, who ventured
into sports business in England, said he and his associates in
Vantgarde want to put the knowledge they acquired there to help develop
the business side of football in Nigeria.

Football without government

Also speaking at
the occasion, Helen Emore, Managing Director/CEO of Vantgarde said the
belief that without government football is dead in Nigeria, erroneous.

“The success of
football does not depend on government. In Nigeria, football can
flourish without government involvement and support. Look at Nollywood
and the music industry how well they are doing; is government investing
in them? Despite the numerous challenges they face, Nollywood is
booming. Why can’t Nigerian football be like that? In Nigeria there is
too much dependence on government to get things going in football.

“The only time
football comes alive in this country is either during the World Cup or
the Nations Cup. Why can’t we build an exciting industry around
football? Elsewhere people millions of people make a living through
football. Why can’t we do the same here?”

The football expo,
expected to attract leading football and business minds within and
outside Nigeria, will have three key components.

* A business forum,
which will open a wide range of dealing opportunities and enable
extension of several organisations into Nigeria’s football market.

*An exhibition,
which will provide business and selling networking opportunity for
organisations to showcase their products and services. Organisers say
it will also present a strategic platform for business negotiations,
sponsorships, rights negotiations and marketing.

* A football carnival where there will be a charity game between an
all-star selected team, which will include ex-footballers against a
selected team from corporate/celebrity Nigeria who have supported
football in Nigeria. The match will be used to create an awareness of
the plight of the less privileged in the society.