Nigeria: Mobil Pulls Out of Athletics

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Peter Edema

14 June 2011

Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) has withdrawn its sponsorship of the annual track and field championships with effect from this year’s edition expected to hold in Calabar later in the month.

Mobil, which has sponsored the annual championship used in the selection of national teams to major world championships announced its withdrawal via a statement signed by its Executive Director, Gloria Essien-Danner on Tuesday.

According to the statement, which did not give any reason for the action, “the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) /Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) joint venture confirms that effective 2011 it will no longer be the title sponsor of the Nigerian Track and Field Athletics Championship, which has become the foremost event for selecting Nigeria’s representatives to major international athletics championships.

“The joint venture in the 21 years that it sponsored the ‘Nigeria/NNPC/Mobil Track & Field Championship’ contributed to the development of sports in Nigeria in keeping with its commitment to developing the youths of our country, and providing them with opportunities to contribute to national development and progress in various capacities.

“We appreciate the opportunity to sponsor AFN’s flagship property through the years and wish the association well in its endeavours.”

Efforts to get the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) scribe, Mrs Maria Wophil were abortive.

Meanwhile AFN president, Chief Solomon Ogba has thanked Mobil for sponsoring its flagship event for 21 years and believes the company’s decision to pull out may not be unconnected with the reality that the championships has grown in geometrical fashions and needs much more funding than it is presently getting.

“We at the federation want to thank Mobil and its joint venture partner,the NNPC for their sponsorship of the All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships.We believe the joint venture has taken the championships to a height that requires much more funding than it is presently getting,” said Ogba in a statement.

The AFN boss assures that the federation under his leadership will take the championships to a new height that Mobil and NNPC will be proud of in no distant future.

“As part of our resolve to take the championships and athletics to a higher level,we have secured an annual N50M sponsorship deal for the All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships with Cross River State Government with effect from this year’s edition.”

But a member of the board of the AFN, Jide Josia, expressed disappointment at the withdrawal of Mobil.

Josia said if Mobil still sponsors athletics in the USA and Bahama and is still one of the biggest sponsors of IAAF, then its withdrawal is shocking.

“Mobil has consistently told us (AFN) over the years both verbally and in writing of the need to get co-sponsors. And we’ve been able to secure sponsorship worth N50 million annually from Cross River state government, I don’t expect them to quit now. They have been consistent for 21 years, I don’t think this is the time for them to withdraw from athletics,” Josia said.

Josia, who was at a loss over the withdrawal blamed the AFN secretariat for what he described as ‘unfortunate situation’.

“I think the secretariat manned by Maria Wophil should be blamed for the loss of Mobil. I am sure they (Mobil) knew of the Cross River state sponsorship like any other person. I impressed it on the secretary to inform Mobil in writing of the new sponsors, I am sure this was not done. And if they got to know like any other person, I don’t believe they were properly treated. This is a corporation that has been with us for 21 years, they deserve to be treated well.

“In fact the AFN secretariat died two years ago and it was buried when Rita Akande was posted to it as assistant secretary. I’ve always said that there is need to change the personnel in the secretariat, we need men who are ready to work not those who have lost touch with the realities of things,” said Josiah.

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