Telecommunications infrastructure company IHS has partnered with the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament ahead of the 2026 Lagos State Championship in October, The PUNCH reports.
The partnership was unveiled in Lagos on Wednesday in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission, with its Director-General, Lekan Fatodu, and other officials of the commission in attendance.
Spires Media public relations manager, Victor Ottah, said the partnership would take the street football project beyond the pitch through initiatives designed to engage participants and communities.
Ottah said IHS, which manages more than 16,000 mobile phone towers and sites across Nigeria, would bring significant innovations to the project through the collaboration.
“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,” he said.
Fatodu praised IHS for partnering with Spires Media, saying the commission had followed the development of the tournament over the past three years.
“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,” he said.
The Lagos sports commission boss also pledged the commission’s support for the 2026 championship, assuring the organisers and IHS of an enabling environment for the tournament.
Spires Media chief executive officer and tournament initiator, Bankole Allibay, expressed excitement about the partnership and what it could mean for the tournament.
“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,” Allibay said.
The next phase of the IHS-Spires 5-Aside partnership will be unveiled in collaboration with the Lagos State Football Association on September 1.
The third season of the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament will begin on October 24, with 16 teams from the five divisions in Lagos competing in the championship.
