After a series of marketing stunts on various media platforms, National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc last night finally let the cat out of the bag, unveiling a K1.58 billion sponsorship package split into three key pillars.
The sponsorship caters for the Malawi National Women’s Football Team—the Scorchers, women’s football league, tertiary competitions and Division One League.
Stakeholders and guests were bursting with excitement after the ‘Bank of the Nation’ opened the briefcases, revealing K450 million package for tertiary competition, K430 million for women’s football and K500 million for division one leagues.
The sponsorship packages are for a year and NBM has pledged to renew if their partners administer the competitions professionally.
During a function held at the bank’s Towers Hanging Gardens in Blantyre, NBM Chief Executive Officer Harold Jiya unpacked the mysterious briefcases, much to the delight of stakeholders who included top officials.
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Notable guests from Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS), Football Association of Malawi (Fam), Tertiary Students Sports Association of Malawi (Tessam) and Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) graced the occasion.
Despite being synonymous with the MO626 College Basketball, Jiya said the sponsorship was more than a financial investment.
“It is a strategic alignment with our vision to be a bank for all Malawians, breaking the perception that we cater only to the elite.
“We are also here to reaffirm our legacy of supporting sports in Malawi. Over the years, NBM plc has been a proud sponsor of minority sports, including college basketball through our Mo626 initiative, the Tessam Sports Festival, and even cricket some years back. These efforts have laid the foundation for what we unveil today—a bold, comprehensive sponsorship package designed to uplift communities, empower women, and nurture the next generation of leaders,” he said.
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Jiya said the sponsorship package would empower the Scorchers and women’s football through the National Women’s Football League.
“Women’s football has captured the nation’s heart, yet it remains underserved and underfunded,” he said.
The NBM CEO said the sponsorship would expand the Mo626 College through the inclusion of football and netball events, apart from basketball, thereby reaching even more students across Malawi.
Jiya said the bank was also pleased to introduce the Mo626 Division One league which serves as a gateway to the Super League.
“To our partners, our athletes, and our fans: this is your moment as much as it is ours. Let us work together to ensure these initiatives deliver lasting impact,” he said.
Tessam President Lameck Khonje pledged to safeguard the sponsorship
“We are delighted with this package and as a Tessam we will provide necessary vehicles to promote NBM business. We thank the bank for this gesture as it will go a long way in developing sports,” Khonje, who is also Fam 2nd Vice President, said.
On his part, Fam President Fleetwood Haiya said the sponsorship was a huge milestone in Malawi sport history.
“The sponsorship complements our strategic plan to transform the game. It has to start from the nursery and this is exactly what the bank has done,” Haiya said.
