BANK OF THE NATION; NBM injects K1.5bn sponsorship to boost sports development
The National Bank of Malawi (NBM) has committed an unprecedented annual sponsorship package worth K1.5 billion towards the development of sports across the nation in a quest to uplift women’s football, nurture talent through college sporting activities, and foster national pride by transforming grassroots football.
Inside the package, the National Women’s League and the Scorchers have been allocated K430 million, Mo626 college basketball, football, and netball will receive K450 million, while the Division One League has been handed K500 million.
A substantial amount of K138 million has been channelled to branding and activation. Speaking a while ago during the unveiling ceremony at NBM Towers in Blantyre, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Harold Jiya said the initiative will see the bank excavating talent and fostering national pride through support towards the Malawi National Women’s Football team and providing a stepping stone for aspiring footballers to reach professional heights.
He said; “This sponsorship is more than a financial investment. It is a strategic alignment with our vision to be a bank for all Malawians, breaking the perception that we cater only for the elite.
This event goes beyond the announcement of this huge sponsorship. It reflects our steadfast commitment to the people of Malawi, to inclusivity and to the transformative power of sports, which transcend boundaries such as age, income, or region in touching the lives of millions of Malawians.”
On his part, Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya said the sponsorship package has come at an ideal time when the association is lacking financial support to uplift all corners of sporting activities in the country.
“We have been knocking on your doors, asking various individuals and companies to help us. There was a time when we nearly lost hope but not anymore. We had a dream of transforming the game through the introduction of various sporting activities as indicated in the package. And this help is making our dreams come true,” he said.
Previously, NBM had sponsored various sporting activities including the recent 2024 K12 million Tertiary Education Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) Festival.