12th January, 2015
The President of the Confederation of African Football, Alhaji Issa Hayatou has praised telecoms firm, Globacom for its commitment to the sponsorship of the African Football Awards known as Glo-CAF Awards.
Hayatou who was speaking at the third contract signing ceremony between Globacom and CAF for the sponsorship of the Awards, said that the company’s sponsorship of the annual event has spurred young and old talents to excellence on the world stage.
Globacom Limited, signed a fresh deal with the Confederation to sponsor the annual recognition event for another four years.
The two parties signed the agreement for the historic third time a few hours before the commencement of the 2014 edition of the Awards at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on Thursday 7 January.
Hayatou, signed on behalf of the Confederation, while Globacom’s Executive Director, Legal Services, Mrs Gladys Talabi, signed for the company.
The parties signed the first agreement in 2005 in Paris, France, while the second signing ceremony for the extension of the partnership was held at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday, 27 August, 2010.
The decision to renew the deal again was reached following the satisfaction of both parties with the resounding success of the annual Glo-CAF Awards.
Speaking at the brief signing ceremony, Mrs. Talabi, said that Globacom had thus far kept the commitment it made at the first contract signing to use the Glo-CAF awards to promote the growth of the game of football in Africa.
“Through these past ten years, we have consistently, brought great value to the profile, stature and rating of the Glo-CAF Awards which has now acquired the status of the Oscars of African Football. With the signing of this third agreement, we wish to reiterate our commitment to further stimulate and inspire the growth of football in our treasured continent,” she said.
She expressed delight that the winners in the various categories of the annual awards, especially the youth segment, had proved their mettle in the round leather game and had emerged as global brands and credible role models.
“Our Chairman, the pillar of football in Africa, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr. (GCON) has given firm assurances of our continuous robust support for the event in subsequent years with a promise to sustain and improve the Glo-CAF Award’s pedigree as an annual spectacle,” she said.
Globacom has invested millions of dollars in rights fees and organisation of the award ceremony in the past nine years, and succeeded in elevating it to a world-class event.
The awards ceremony have been held in major African cities including Cairo (once) , Abuja (once) , Lome (once), Accra ( four times) while Lagos hosted the event last Thursday for the third time.