Ardova PLC has agreed a three-year deal to become the title sponsor of the National Handball Premier League.
The deal was struck between the Ardova PLC and the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) at their corporate office in GRA, Lagos on Thursday.
The sponsorship is reportedly worth around 9.25 million naira over the deal’s three-year tenure.
The Chairman of Ardova PLC, Alhaji Abdulwasiu Sowami said the primary reason for sponsoring the league is yo develop handball in Nigeria.
Sowami expressed satisfaction in the leadership of HFN during the five-year deal with Prudent Energy and Service Limited which ended in 2023.
He said, “I want to appreciate Sam Ocheho and his board for doing a wonderful job in the last five years during the Prudent Energy sponsorship; they are indeed a worthy partner.
“Today, we are witnessing a new partnership between Ardova and the Handball Federation of Nigeria as the title sponsor of the National Handball Premier League. I want to thank Ocheho for his efforts in resolving all the issues surrounding the title sponsorship”.
The Executive Director, Prudent Energy and Services Limited, Abiola Babatunde-Ojo said the new sponsorship by Ardova PLC will open doors for human capacity development for players in the league.
She said the 22 teams in the league will get an increased preparatory subsidy of 500,00 naira and the winners will get 2.5 million naira price money.
Babatunde-Ojo said, “The sponsorship will enhance players while playing because they will be properly motivated.
Responding, the President of Handball Federation of Nigeria, Sam Ocheho said since the sponsorship of the premier league by Prudent Energy and Services Limited, the league has grown in leap and bound, positioning Nigeria handball to its highest pedestal and exposing the best players in the league to international reckoning for over five years
He further said the league will get a better mileage and surpass its potential with Ardova PLC now as sponsor.
The first phase of the Ardova Handball Premier League will be held in Benin City, Edo State from June 30th to July 13th, 2023.