West Ham, FC Ifeanyi Ubah/Capital Oil in historic partnership deal

West Ham United FC, one of the leading clubs in the English Premier League has signed a partnership deal with Nigeria oil giants, NPFL club side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Capital Oil and Gas.

The deal, which was officially signed yesterday in London will be unveiled at the Olympic stadium tomorrow, before West Ham’s first home league match against Bournemouth.

In a release by the London-based club via its website www.whufc.co,it said: “West Ham United are delighted to announce the Club’s first ever official partnership in Africa, following the signing of a long-term agreement with Capital Oil and Gas Ind. Ltd, the principal investor in the Nigerian Professional Football League outfit, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Capital Oil and Gas, a company of strategic national importance in Nigeria stands out as a leading player in the downstream subsector of Nigeria’s Petroleum industry and the fastest growing indigenous Oil and Gas company in the West African sub region with a vision to become Africa’s first choice provider of energy solutions through innovation, strategic partnership and clientele value added service delivery.

The partnership will provide Capital Oil and Gas with a range of rights to promote the business through the football club, driving visibility and awareness as well as focusing on B2B interaction through the use of hospitality at the Hammers’ iconic new home.

Based in Nnewi, Anambra State, and currently competing in the NPFL, FC Ifeanyi Ubah are to become the Hammers’ Official Nigerian Football Club Partner.

The long-term agreement will also see the two football clubs join forces on a number of football-related projects led by FC Ifeanyi Ubah, from best-practice coaching initiatives to establishing grassroots football programmes in Nigeria, all with a view to improving the standard of football across the region.

West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady said: “This ground-breaking partnership serves to further emphasize our growing international profile, bringing the famous West Ham United name to Africa for the first time in a partnership context.

“The popularity of Premier League football in West Africa has been well documented and it is testament to the Club’s success, on and off the pitch, that we are now considered one of the most high profile and attractive clubs in the region.