MTN Nigeria now Arsenal’s official telecommunications partner

Arsenal Football Club has entered into a partnership with MTN that makes the mobile network operator the official mobile telecommunications partner in the country.

According to the agreement, the partnership will see MTN offer a number of exclusive Arsenal related benefits to the club’s large following in Nigeria, as well as to MTN’s vast subscriber base.  MTN will offer its customers access to a range of match and player exclusive content including match highlights, club news, interviews and club imagery.

According to a statement by MTN, through Arsenal’s digital platforms, the telecommunications outfit will also be able to engage directly with supporters in Nigeria.

It said promotional and marketing activities featuring Arsenal first-team players and club legends will further enhance MTN’s engagement with Arsenal supporters, just as Arsenal will also send specialist coaches to undertake annual coaching clinics as part of MTN’s marketing activities in Nigeria.

Arsenal has fantastic support in Nigeria, with the club’s largest website traffic outside the UK coming from the country.  In addition to this, the club’s second highest number of digital members and third largest Twitter following comes from Nigeria.

Speaking on the partnership, Arsenal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vinai Venkatesham, said: “Arsenal has huge support in Nigeria, in part due to Kanu Nwankwo and the recent emergence of Alex Iwobi into the first team.  This partnership with MTN will really help us engage with these passionate fans on a regular and personal basis.

“We are expecting MTN’s Arsenal exclusive content to be very popular among our supporters, as well as followers of football generally. This is our second regional partnership in Nigeria and fifth in Africa.  It really underlines our commitment and the level of support we have on the continent.”

Also speaking on the partnership, MTN’s General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge, said the partnership is another way MTN is connecting with the passion of Nigerians.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Arsenal and look forward to engaging with sports enthusiasts beyond the current traditional broadcast of matches. Not only this but also digitally with access to exclusive contents that will be delivered via our network. This partnership is a demonstration of our long-standing support of sports, which fosters unity amongst Nigerians.

“This partnership will also contribute to sports talent development across the country and we look forward to welcoming Arsenal-trained coaches to Nigeria soon in this regard. Football lovers across the country can be rest assured of an exciting partnership that will bring unrivalled money can’t buy international football experience to Nigeria,” he declared.

Arsenal and MTN announced details of the partnership at a press conference in Nigeria this morning, with club legend, Kanu in attendance.