LBA, Search & Groom enter partnership

The League Bloggers Awards (LBA) and Search & Groom have agreed to partner in helping youth development through football for the next two years.

The partnership is purely based on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The teams of LBA and Search & Groom met in Lagos last week to identify common interest areas in the game - both in the league and at the

grassroots level.

Executive Director of Search & Groom, Yomi Kuku explained that his

organisation hopes to promote an educational programme, 'Read 4 Stardom,' in collaboration with Fifa's CSR platform, Football for Hope (FFH) and in cooperation with the winners of the 2012 LBA and other league stars.

“This synergy is a positive turning point for our work in Nigeria, a

reflection of our commitment to young people in Nigeria, creating a path towards sustainable recognition and alliance with the mainstream football participants and stakeholders.

"The award organisers are well-known to Search & Groom in their

professional capacities and we are most delighted to work with them.

The 'Read 4 Stardom' project will be promoted by an 11-man team to include a Nigeria Premier League (NPL) star," Kuku said.

CEO of LBA, Ojeikere Aikhoje, added that the benefit of partnering to promote the 'Read 4 Stardom' educational programme is to expose children in schools to the top flight in Nigeria.

"The partnership with Search & Groom is an exciting one because it will help promote the 'Read 4 Stardom' among pupils and students. At the same time, we intend to use it to help promote the Nigerian league by letting the kids follow the game and also write about it in order to allow them embrace the league as part of their culture as they grow up. It is in this area that the LBA Ambassador, Victor Ezeji and other league stars will play huge roles," said Aikhoje.

During the 2012 League Bloggers Awards in Lagos on October 28, a 15-minute celebration of development through football will be a major highlight.

The 2012 LBA is the maiden edition of the end-of-season award to honour the best players and coaches in the last Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season won by Kano Pillars.