Secondary school basketball championship finals begin tomorrow

The finals of the 2024 Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship will begin tomorrow at the National Stadium, Lagos, with 12 schools vying for the top prizes in the boys’ and girls’ categories.

The championship, the 24th in the series, will end on June 29.

According to the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), competing in the girls’ category are  Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT, Abuja; Zarumai Model School, Minna, Niger State; Queen Amina College, Kaduna, Kaduna State; Dom- Domingos College, Warri, Delta State; Topfield College, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos State and Onireke High School, Ibadan, Oyo State.
 

In the boys’ category are Father O’Connell Science College, Minna, Niger State; Rumfa College, Kano, Kano State; Government Day Secondary School, Pantami, Gombe; Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa; Ijaye Housing Estate Grammar School, Ijaye, Lagos and FAAN Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River State.
 
Speaking at the press conference and draws for the national finals, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, said, MILO has been a cornerstone of youth empowerment in Nigeria, providing over 3.5 million school-aged children yearly with opportunities to experience the transformative power of sports through programmes like the MILO Building Champs and the Milo Basketball Championship.
 
Elhusseini, represented by the Commercial Director, Mr. Boladale Odunlami, said the company firmly believes that every child, irrespective of their background or physical abilities, deserves the opportunity to unlock their inherent potential through participation in sports.  
 
“This is why awe are unwavering in our commitment to ignite the spirit of champions within the children every single day by creating opportunities through sports,” he stated.
 
NSSF President, Mrs Joseph Olabisi, said the championship has become a beacon of excellence, championing the development of grassroots basketball for 26 remarkable years.
 
He said the competition has showcased and harnessed the great potential of young Nigerian students and integrated them into the mainstream of basketball.  
 
She disclosed that players discovered from the championship are in national teams, international and domestic basketball leagues, adding that there is no team in Nigeria that does not parade players who participated in past editions of the championship. 
 
She also noted that this tournament has provided a platform for young athletes to learn valuable life skills, such as discipline, dedication, teamwork and friendship, while developing passion for the game.