Davidson Owumi, Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has issued a stern warning to all 20 participating clubs: create and maintain functional websites or risk losing their club licences. The directive was delivered during a seminar in Enugu titled ‘NPFL/Afrinvest Marketing Investments, Brand Merchandising and Media’, organised by the league in partnership with Afrinvest. Owumi emphasized that credible, verifiable information is essential for attracting sponsors and growing the league’s commercial potential, and that the current lack of digital infrastructure among clubs is costing the NPFL and its teams millions of naira in lost sponsorship revenue.
Owumi expressed deep concern over the inconsistent and often non-existent online presence of NPFL clubs. He described the situation as a major obstacle to the league’s development, noting that many clubs lack functional websites and have inadequate social media engagement. “This is as a result of inadequate, inconsistent, epileptic and, in some cases, the complete absence of verifiable data from participating clubs that lack functional websites and adequate social media presence,” he stated. Without reliable digital platforms, clubs cannot effectively showcase their brands or communicate with fans, sponsors, and media outlets.
The NPFL COO confirmed that the league will enforce strict measures to ensure compliance. Any club—whether newly promoted or already competing in the top flight—that fails to establish and maintain a functional website will not be granted a licence. Existing licences may also be withdrawn if clubs continue to neglect their digital obligations. This move underscores the league’s commitment to professionalism and modernisation in Nigerian football administration.
Owumi also called on club administrators to invest more in their media departments. He stressed that without proper funding and regular training, media teams cannot perform at optimal levels. “The media department is the eye through which the public sees the club,” he said. “Any club without a credible and effective media department is ‘useless’ and ‘dead’ in the public space.” He recommended that each club should have a professionally structured media team of five to six personnel, including a Director of Media, Still Photographer, Graphic Designer, News Editor, Social Media Manager, Content Creator, and Videographer.
Currently, most NPFL clubs operate with minimal resources, often relying on a single individual to handle all media duties—from photography and interviews to social media updates and video production. Owumi described this as “unprofessional, unproductive and counter-effective.” He urged clubs to adopt professional standards to enhance their visibility, credibility, and marketability. As the NPFL continues to modernise, the push for digital compliance and media professionalism will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Nigerian football.
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