IHS partners Spires 5-Aside for Lagos street soccer championship

Telecommunications infrastructure giant IHS has joined forces with the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament, signaling a significant boost for the upcoming 2026 Lagos State Championship scheduled for October. The partnership was officially unveiled in Lagos, with key figures from the Lagos State Sports Commission, including Director-General Lekan Fatodu, in attendance.

Victor Ottah, public relations manager for Spires Media, emphasized that the collaboration will extend the street football project beyond the field. He stated that IHS, which manages over 16,000 mobile phone towers across Nigeria, will introduce substantial innovations. "This partnership is one made in heaven," Ottah remarked. "IHS is known for bringing people closer through its work in the telecommunications industry, and now it is joining forces with Spires Media to drive the 5-Aside project with significant innovations."

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This partnership is one made in heaven. IHS is known for bringing people closer through its work in the telecommunications industry, and now it is joining forces with Spires Media to drive the 5-Aside project with significant innovations.

Lekan Fatodu of the Lagos Sports Commission lauded IHS for its involvement, noting the commission's close observation of the tournament's growth over the past three years. He described the partnership as "long overdue" and praised the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer project as the "most professionally run 5-Aside tournament, not only in Nigeria but across the West African sub-region." The commission pledged its support, promising an enabling environment for the championship.

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This is a partnership that is long overdue. We have closely monitored the activities of Spires Media through the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer project in the last three years, and I make bold to say it is the most professionally run 5-Aside tournament, not only in Nigeria but across the West African sub-region.

Bankole Allibay, CEO of Spires Media and the tournament's initiator, expressed his enthusiasm. "I must appreciate IHS for trusting us enough with this project," he said. "We have done this alone in the last three years and the successes recorded are there for everyone to see. Now imagine what we can achieve with this partnership."

The next phase of the partnership will be announced on September 1, in collaboration with the Lagos State Football Association. The third season of the tournament is set to commence on October 24, featuring 16 teams from Lagos's five divisions competing for the championship.

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I must appreciate IHS for trusting us enough with this project. We have done this alone in the last three years and the successes recorded are there for everyone to see. Now imagine what we can achieve with this partnership.