In a decisive step towards professionalising the Nigeria National League (NNL), betPawa on Tuesday trained club officials on the digital platform that will power its ₦494 million Locker Room Bonus (LRB).
The session, held Tuesday at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, marked the beginning of a new era where Nigerian players will receive their bonuses instantly after every league win.
Led by Nii Armah Ashong-Katai, Regional Manager for CSR and Sports Development in West and Southern Africa, alongside technical experts from betPawa’s hubs in Estonia and Brazil, the workshop introduced club administrators to a system designed to guarantee speed, transparency, and accountability. With the click of a button, officials will be able to upload team sheets, confirm eligibility, and trigger automatic payments of ₦56,000 per player and staff member directly into their mobile money wallets.
The participants’ reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Several administrators described the innovation as a “game-changer,” thanking betPawa for putting players first and ensuring bonuses are paid without delays or interference.
The platform, officials noted, will continue to be fine-tuned before the November kickoff of the NNL season.
For betPawa, the training was more than a technical exercise — it was proof of concept. Across Africa, the Locker Room Bonus has already reshaped football in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Rwanda. In Ghana, win ratios jumped and new champions emerged, while in Uganda, the initiative helped raise national teams’ FIBA rankings. Now, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous football nation, is set to join the movement.
Each NNL victory will deliver ₦1,288,000 to the winning club, with ₦56,000 going to 20 players and three technical staff, while ₦400,000 per match will strengthen league operations.
Over a 292-game season, players will share ₦369 million, with an additional ₦100 million channelled into the league’s structure. End-of-season prize money worth ₦8.1 million has also been earmarked.
Borah Omary Ndanyungu, betPawa’s Head of Local Marketing and CSR, said the sponsorship reflects the company’s commitment to investing in the people who drive the game.
“We’re not just handing out cash, we’re building a system that lifts Nigerian football to the next level. This means players get ₦56,000 instantly after each win — no delays, no drama. It’s about giving them the respect they deserve for every hard-fought victory,” he said.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau hailed the initiative as a boost to local football, particularly in stemming the migration of talent abroad.
“One major challenge we face is our best legs leaving the country for greener pastures. With this deal, we can reduce that migration. Nigeria is a big country, with millions of footballers, and we need more initiatives like this to keep talent at home,” Gusau said. He stressed that the transparency of the digital platform would attract more sponsors in the future.
For NNL Chairman George Aluo, the partnership is validation of the league’s reforms.
“We rebranded the NNL to restore credibility, and today betPawa has recognised that work. Imagine a player stepping into the locker room and already finding ₦56,000 in his wallet — that is real motivation. This is a game-changer,” Aluo said.
Players themselves are equally thrilled. Rising star Chidozie said the incentive will bring out the best in athletes: “Every player would love this motivation. Ten wins means ₦560,000 in your pocket. It will make us fight harder and make the league more competitive,” he said.
With the technical groundwork laid at Transcorp Hilton and fine-tuning still ongoing, all eyes are now on the NNL’s November kickoff. If early signs are anything to go by, the Locker Room Bonus is on course to redefine not just how players are rewarded, but how Nigerian football is run.
