By Manasseh Akawe
A delegation from the Benue State Sports Marketing and Lottery Board (BSSMLB) had last Friday in Lagos, met with officials of Bet9ja, a leading sports betting company, to discuss the review of its license and improved Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the state.
Led by the Executive Secretary, Hon. Michael Uper, the delegation, which included the Head of Enforcement and Compliance, Mr. Gadafi Asemnan, and the Head of Planning and Research, Mr. Justin Iorshaegher, emphasized the need for Betniaja to increase its annual license fee to reflect the current economic reality.
According to Hon. Uper, “We believe that Betniaja has been doing well in Benue State, and we want to ensure that they continue to thrive. However, we also need to ensure that the state government gets a fair share of the revenue generated by the company.”
The Executive Secretary commended Betniaja for its positive impact on the lives of youths in the state but expressed concerns over the company’s agents’ activities. “We frown at the situation where super agents of the company receive and allocate locations to agents. Henceforth, any agent who wants to own a shop in Benue for Bet9ja’s retail activities must register with the board,” he said.
In response, Barr. Adewale Akande, Senior Legal and Compliance Officer of Bet9ja, assured the delegation that the company would review its license agreement and Good Cause Money (GCM) and get back to the board.
He also promised that the company would work with the board to ensure that its corporate social responsibility initiatives benefit the local communities.
“We have undertaken several projects in various parts of the state, and we are committed to contributing to the state’s economy,” Barr. Akande said.
He expressed appreciation for the the enabling environment provided by the Benue State government, and expressed the willingness of the company to work with the board to ensure that their operations benefit the people of the state.
The meeting, which was attended by top management officials of Bet9ja and the BSSMLB delegation, is expected to yield positive outcomes for both parties, including increased revenue for the Benue State government and improved services for Bet9ja’s agents in the state.
As Hon. Uper noted, “Governor Hyacinah Iormem Alia’s administration is focused on promoting economic growth and development in the state, and we believe that partnerships with companies like Bet9ja are crucial to achieving this goal.”
