Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has launched the Abia State Football Supalig, a state-wide football league aimed at reducing youth unemployment through sports engagement. The league, launched in Umuahia, will utilize existing sports infrastructure, including the Enyimba and Abia Warriors Stadiums, and will feature 9 teams from across the state.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Sir Nwobilo Ananaba, emphasized that the league will provide opportunities for youths to express their sporting talents and earn a living. The state has entered into a Public Private Partnership with Fifty1 Alliance Limited to manage the league.
The Supalig will have a prize money of N20m to N25m and will create jobs and revenue generation for the state government. The league will also provide training in sports business and media production, utilize existing infrastructure, and prevent talent drain from the state.
Managing Director of Fifty1 Alliance, Mr. Mike Dimiri, expressed his intention to create more value in the sports industry and raise the state's GDP by at least 5% through the Supalig. The league is expected to promote balanced development and create new opportunities for sports business in Abia State.