Daily Independent Online.
*
Thursday, June 17, 2004.
Mobil begins phased pull-out from athletics
Pius Anakali
Senior
Correspondent,
Lagos
Still groaning from
the withdrawal of UNIC insurance from athletics, the dwindling fortunes of
track and field has suffered yet
another major set back, as Mobil Nigeria plc made known its intention to
withdraw from the money spinning Mobil Track and Field championship.
Announcing its
planned withdrawal at a briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Public Affairs Manager
of the Oil prospecting outfit, Rita Umoren explained that having sponsored the
event for the past fifteen years, they expected that by now, Athletics
Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) the body under whose auspices the annual
championship is organised should have been able to attract other sponsors to
the championship.
She said
“having been part of this event for the past 15 years, we now want to
spread our sponsorship of the annual event to the grassroots where we think our
support is needed most”.
She explained that the
withdrawal is not because of any misgivings or financial misappropriation but
that Mobil has done enough for Athletics and thinks others should come in now.
While thanking AFN
and Athletes for their support over the years ,she informed that unlike in the
last year’s edition where the sponsorship package rose to N20million
mark, the 2004 package has been reduced to N10million.
Reacting, AFN
president, Dan Ngerem commended Mobil for supporting Athletics and Athletes for
the past 15 years saying that their effort will never go unnoticed.
Ngerem enjoined
Nigerians not to question Mobil’s withdrawal; rather, he said such query
should be directed to the Federal Government and NNPC for their refusal to ask
other oil companies to support sports.
