NFF picks Air Peace as Official Airline of Super Eagles, Falcons, 9 other Nigerian National Teams

By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief, Abuja

Apparently satisfied with the services of the frontline indigeous aviation company, Air Peace, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday sealed a partnership agreement with the airline as the Official Airline Sponsor of Nigerian National Teams including the Super Eagles, Super Falcons and U-23 Olympic Eagles.

Other national teams covered by the sponsorship deal between NFF and Air Peace are the remaining eight national teams namely Flying Eagles (U-20 Boys), Golden Eaglets (U-17 Boys) and Future Eagles (U-15 Boys) as well as Falconets (U-20 Women) and (U-17 Women). Super Sand Eagles, Fustal team and Home-based Eagles will benefit from the sponsorship too.

Two-term President of NFF and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has described as “an ordained union of two super brands”, as he looks forward to an exciting partnership that will take Nigerian football to greater heights within the shortest possible time.

At a short but impressive ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Pinnick and Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema dwelt on the strength inherent in Nigeria’s diversity, and the opportunities and possibilities flowing in a country of 200 million people with 378 different nationalities, and football as the strongest unifying force.

“Air Peace epitomizes unity, patriotism, humanity and selflessness. Ourselves at the NFF have followed not only the meteoric rise of the company but its patriotic fervour and sense of nationalism. It is an organization that believes firmly in the Nigeria project, just as we do.

“Air Peace epitomizes unity, patriotism, humanity and selflessness. Ourselves at the NFF have followed not only the meteoric rise of the company but its patriotic fervour and sense of nationalism. It is an organization that believes firmly in the Nigeria project, just as we do.

“This contract covers all the National Teams, from the Super Eagles to the junior teams. Let me say it here that the Super Eagles will be flying to Cape Verde on Monday for their FIFA World Cup qualifier in the latest brand of aircraft just acquired by Air Peace. The NFF is happy to partner with this highly responsible organization that has Nigeria at the heart of everything it does.” He also assured that NFF will keep to the letter and spirit of the contract.

Onyema, who spoke at length on the power of football and the glory locked in Nigeria’s humongous human and material resources, said his company was delighted to have the opportunity to work with the NFF and the National Teams. “We decided to partner with the NFF not just because we are enamoured by the hard work and resilience of Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick in improving the lot of Nigeria’s football on the pitch and in the boardroom, but also because we passionately seek a platform to give Nigerians hope.

“Football is a huge unifying force everywhere and the same is true of our country.”

Onyema said Air Peace has the capacity to compete with the best airlines in the world, and would offer top-of-the-range services to the various National Teams.

The contract is for one-year, renewable for four years and worth N200million with separate Value-In-Kind in the worth of N100million.

Among the NFF management staff present at the occasion were Elder Charity Kadiri, Director of Finance and Admin; Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications; Barr. Okey Obi, Director of Legal Services ;  Alizor Chuks Head of Marketing and Neda Kheiri, Head of Marketing, Air Peace as well as Peggy Iheagwam, Head of Human Resources at Air Peace.