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Buoyed with a sterling reputation as the one who pioneered digital advertising of Nigeria-based brands on the global internet portal when his firm acted as the exclusive online advertising representative for Yahoo Inc in sub-Saharan Africa, Dominic Essien, an ex-Investment Banker is set to launch another groundbreaking global platform that will showcase African talents across all sports to the world, beginning with Nigeria. His new venture called FONISO, available on Appstore and Playstore, provides a robust engagement with sports business, seeking a better way to monetize sports and reward legends.
Foniso, a social networking app designed for sports enthusiasts, announced plans to collaborate with the Nigeria Football Federation and clubs from the Nigeria Premier Football League to globally showcase local talents through its platform.
Dominic Essien, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Foniso, disclosed this during a press conference held in Lagos.
He described Foniso as a platform akin to “LinkedIn for the global sports community,” aimed at connecting fans with emerging stars, established athletes, and legends worldwide.
Essien highlighted that Foniso enables users to spotlight their sporting talents and will work closely with Nigerian clubs and federations to promote their teams and players. He emphasised the strategic importance of partnerships with both clubs and the NFF to achieve these goals.
“In our strategic approach, we will engage with the NFF. Our plan is to engage with the clubs directly and also with the football federation to bring these clubs on board,” Essien explained.
“Imagine, hypothetically, if 22 clubs each have 22 players, and each player has 10 fans. This illustrates the community we aim to build. Clubs can showcase their games and players on our platform.”
Furthermore, Essien revealed that Foniso users will have opportunities to monetize their content based on the views and interactions they generate from fellow users. The app is set to launch in August in the UK, timed ahead of the English Premier League season, with subsequent rollouts planned for Spain, France, and Italy.
Through these initiatives, Foniso aims to leverage its platform to amplify the visibility of Nigerian football talent on a global scale, fostering greater engagement and support within the sports community.