A two-day FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management Programme began on Tuesday in Abuja with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) urging clubs to take greater responsibility for financial stability and long-term growth of the domestic game.

Addressing participants, NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), in a message delivered by the Federation’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (MON), said the event offered clubs and league administrators a chance to adopt more sustainable and professional practices.

“The Nigeria Football Federation has been intentional in impressing it on the Clubs that they must work hard towards financial sustainability, and generally contribute to making the football ecosystem better for all stakeholders to be proud of the industry,” Gusau said.

He added that Nigeria’s football leagues and clubs must be viewed not only as sporting institutions but also as viable contributors to the country’s economy. “Significant contributions to the Gross Domestic Product of our country can only happen through the activities and the gravitas that the leagues and clubs are able to establish to generate direct, indirect and induced income,” he noted.

The workshop, held in the Federal Capital Territory, drew chairmen and CEOs of the 20 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs, as well as leadership from the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), and Nationwide League One (NLO). Some senior NFF officials also attended.

NPFL Chairman and NFF Second Vice President, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, was represented by the league board’s Vice Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Nasir Saidu.

Tuesday’s sessions focused on strategic planning and finance, with governance, commercial operations, and marketing to be discussed on Wednesday. One of the key facilitators was Javier Sobrino, a former Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at FC Barcelona, who led the session on strategic planning.

Dr. Sanusi also encouraged participants to actively implement what they learn: “We expect that what you take away from this programme will be applied meaningfully for the good of our nation’s game.”

The workshop is part of FIFA’s wider effort to improve club football management across member associations and to elevate the standards of domestic competitions.

Meanwhile, attention now turns to Rabat, Morocco, where the draw ceremony for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 4.

The tournament, now expanded to 24 teams, will feature Nigeria in Pot 1 alongside hosts Morocco, defending champions North Korea, Spain, Japan, and the United States. Other African nations participating include Cameroon, Zambia, and Côte d’Ivoire.