Oil Company Signs Sponsorship Deal to Support Nigerian Athletics

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced that Chinese oil company Sinopec has become one of its official sponsors.

Sinopec, an official partner of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), were recently approved a twelve-month extension to their oil exploration ventures in the country. Sinopec’s US$150,000 investment comes just one day after previous sponsor Mobil Nigeria withdrew their commitment to the ruling body. For this reason, AFN president Solomon Ogba said the timing of the deal was welcome.

Ogba urged other companies to follow suit, adding that the Sinopec deal was “a huge blessing to the AFN which paints a bright future for athletics in Nigeria.”

Ogba said: “I am happy with what has happened. It is said nature abhors a vacuum and that is what has practically played out with the coming of Sinopec.”

The deal is the second contract the AFN have signed in the last two weeks after the federation recently signed a US$300,000 five-year agreement with the Cross River State government.