Nigeria's foremost energy solutions company, Aiteo Group, on Wednesday signed a five-year partnership agreement worth N2.5-billion with the Nigeria Football Federation, which conferred on the company the title of Official Optimum Partner of the NFF.
The partnership, which is the first in-country sports sponsorship for the energy giant, will start on 1 May, and has an initial option of one-year extension.
A primary plank of the agreement is payment of salaries for all national team coaches.
At Wednesday's signing ceremony, NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: "This is a heartwarming landmark in the history of football sponsorship in Nigeria. I am very happy that a critical area of our expenditure is being taken care of by this agreement."
Aiteo's Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Ndiana-Abasi Matthew was equally enthused, adding: "Aiteo Group's overarching social responsibility objectives are to encourage a positive impact, through our activities on the society-at-large and we have successfully done so for several years.
"Football brings joy to the lives of Nigerians and each moment celebrated by families in their living rooms over a goal scored or friends catching up on highlights of a well-taken free-kick by their local heroes, leaves an indelible mark with memories for a life time."
Aiteo Chairman Benedict Peters added: "As Nigerian companies grow, I believe the benefits of that growth should be spread as widely as possible. Aiteo Group is as passionate about leadership as Nigerians are about football, so we are proud to be working together with the NFF and its coaching staff to reach a shared goal of a more prosperous Nigeria.
"It is an exciting time for the Nigerian Football Federation and for Aiteo. Two organisations which are increasingly seeing global success, competing with global players. Aiteo Group is proud to sign this multi-million dollar partnership, which will help to support the Super Eagles to success in the 2018 World Cup, the 2019 AFCON and beyond."
Aiteo Group is one of Africa's fastest-growing energy leaders. It operates through subsidiaries of which Aiteo Eastern E&P Co. Ltd is the main subsidiary.