As part of the efforts to grow the game of Rugby in Nigeria, the Nigeria federation of Rugby football Federation ( NRFF) has entered into a strategic partnership with Bugawin
This was made known on Tuesday by the President of NRFF, Dr. Ademola Are at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during the departure of the team and officials for Olympics qualifiers in Mauritius.
Speaking on the game and its development in Nigeria and partnership being entered with Bugawin, Are said the partnership would engender the growth of the game both on the short and long terms.
Are who expressed his delight at the coming of Bugawin into the partnership with NRFF said the problem of funding for the Rigby Federation would soon be a thing of the past.
“I am impressed because, in the last two years we have gone through a lot in the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation. After the lifting of the ban that was placed on Nigeria; we now started putting things together on how do we move forward. We cannot move forward without funding. The Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, is doing its outmost best but you would agree with me that the federal government has its priority areas. Sports is also a priority area because of its importance especially among the youths. But because of the loads, the enormous money requirements of all these other areas, sports needs extra push especially from corporate organisations and people with like minds to take rugby to where it is expected to be. This is why I said I am privileged and happy to be here on behalf of the board members because there is nothing we are doing that the board members are not aware of. BugaWin has come to our rescue when most needed,” he said.
On the choice of Bugawin, Are who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Marketing Committee of the Nigeria Olympics Committtee and an Executive member of Rugby Africa for audit and risk Committee, said: “Bugawin, when we looked into its objectives, is an organisation that is out to empower Nigerians in entertainment and lottery activities.
“Rugby being a very physical activity, needs theme for the physically strong and the youths especially at our university, polytechnics and colleges of education , you will see that our young people are allover the places. Like the Managing Director of BugaWin rightly said the bulk of the team going for the Olympics qualifiers in Mauritius are based in the United Kingdom (UK). Nigeria has one hundred players in the UK. Three of them are playing for the UK. and this team comprises of players from Britain, United States of America and Nigeria. And Courtesy of Bugawin some of these players wouldn’t have been able to travel. We say a big thank you to bugaWin and we are looking forward to a very robust relationship A robust relationship in the sense that we have very high expectation in this relationship and we are very sure that with the push they have given us, at this initial stage, they would not be disappointed.
“So, Bugawin it is for rugby development in Nigeria. and Africa”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director/ CEO of Bugawin, Otunba Charles Farimoyo said his organization decided to support among other sports because many Nigerians are doing great in Rugby abroad and it is time Nigeria begin to enjoy the benefits of the talents Nigerians are using to do other countries proud.
“Today is a very important day because we are consumating a wonderful partnership which we believe will stimulate the growth of rugby game in Nigeria in particular Africa.
Rugby is a very athlectic sport for us our motivation has always been when you watch South African team becoming world champion in Rugby competiition and when we look around we see that Nigerians are over the world playing as professionals Rugby around the world. So we believe it is high time that apart from football, we need to promote this God given talents that Nigerians have and do everything to bring them to the top of the world. To let them dominate the game worldwide. This is because we have all what it takes the talents, the experience the athletic spirit and also millions of people who watch Rugby in Nigeria and that we can actually give something back to our youths in Nigeria so that they can from Primary, Secondary and tertiary educational levels and including forming our youth leagues and we want to be a reliable partner to Nigeria Rugby Footbal Federation in developing this game. in a nutshel, lifewin which is also a gametaiment company, we are happy that we are now becoming a very reliable and official partner to Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.
In his response, Chairman and co-founder of Bugawin Architect Ayodele Omogbehin who said the basic mantra of Bugawin is: “Register, play and win” added that it is a lifestyle, with a slogan: “More Money, more Wealth”.
Omogbehin said his gaming outfit is different from what others are doing because Bugawin is out to create wealth
“We are different from the way gaming, i dont want to say lottery, is played, because we want to create wealth. In doing so, we have so we are coming with a different direction and different strategies. that would change the system and allow people to have strong interest in gaming….. except we don’t encourage underage..the strategy is to win and create more wealth”
On partnership with NRFF, Omogbehin said it is an opportunity for him to express his passion for sports development in Nigeria
“Now we have an association we want to partner with to promoteI have passion for sports so in our company, we are looking for an opportunity where we can come in to promote Rugby in Nigeria,” he said.
