12 Schools Battle for National Glory as 26th MILO Basketball Championship Reaches Grand Finale

12 Schools Battle for National Glory as 26th MILO Basketball Championship Reaches Grand Finale
Share

12 Schools Battle for National Glory as 26th MILO Basketball Championship Reaches Grand Finale

Following months of intense competition involving more than 13,000 secondary schools across Nigeria, MILO has unveiled the 12 schools that will compete in the National Finals of the 26th MILO School Basketball Championship (MSBC), reaffirming its commitment to using sports as a platform for nurturing confidence, resilience, discipline and leadership among young Nigerians.

Since its inception in 1999, the MILO School Basketball Championship has grown into one of Nigeria’s longest-running grassroots sports development programmes.

From fewer than 500 participating schools at launch, the championship now engages over 13,000 secondary schools annually, providing young athletes with opportunities to sharpen their basketball skills while developing essential life values.

The finalists emerged from qualifying competitions held across the Savannah, Central, Atlantic and Western Conferences. Six boys’ teams and six girls’ teams will compete for national honours at the championship finals scheduled for July 2, 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The National Draws conducted during the event determined the group stage fixtures.

In the boys’ category, Group A comprises Father O’Connell Science College (Niger State), King Amakree Academy (Rivers State) and Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Life Camp (FCT), while Group B features Davidhall International College (Lagos State), Family Support Programme Secondary School (Katsina State) and Urhobo College (Delta State).

The girls’ category has Lanreleke Academy (Osun State), St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School (Bayelsa State) and Government Secondary School, Gboko (Benue State) in Group A. Group B consists of Ado Grammar School (Ekiti State), Urhobo College (Delta State) and Government Girls College (Bauchi State).

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Wassim Elhusseini, represented by the company’s Commercial Director, Boladale Odunlami, reiterated the company’s dedication to creating opportunities that promote the holistic development of young Nigerians.

He said the future of any nation depends on the confidence, character and opportunities provided to its youth, stressing that beyond academic excellence, young people require platforms that help them develop teamwork, resilience, leadership and problem-solving skills.

According to him, the MILO School Basketball Championship remains a strategic investment in raising not only talented athletes but also confident and resilient leaders capable of succeeding both on and off the court.

Elhusseini also highlighted the championship’s contribution to Nigerian basketball, noting that it has produced notable stars such as Precious Achiuwa, Chukwudi Maduabum and Nkechi Akashili, who have represented Nigeria on the international stage.

Also speaking, Category Manager for MILO, Gilbert Tweneboah Koduah, reflected on the championship’s 26-year journey, describing it as a platform created to help young Nigerians discover their talents, build confidence and develop the qualities required to become champions in sports and life.

President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Mrs. Olabisi Joseph, commended Nestlé Nigeria for its unwavering commitment to youth development through sports.

She noted that the increasing number of participating schools each year underscores the championship’s positive impact on schools and communities nationwide by providing students with opportunities to compete, learn, build confidence and develop lifelong values.

The event attracted key stakeholders, including the General Secretary of the Nigeria Collegiate Sports Federation (NCSF), Lanre Balogun; a representative of the National Association of Special Educators, Mr. Olusola Okanlawon; coaches, teachers, participating schools, media partners and other stakeholders.

Activities leading to the grand finale include ongoing group stage matches, a coaching clinic and a Vibes Day designed to enhance the capacity of young athletes and coaches.

The championship will climax with the National Finals on July 2, 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, where Nigeria’s next generation of basketball stars will battle for national supremacy.
.

Related articles

FG Directs Tertiary Institutions to Expel Students Convicted of Kidnapping

FG Directs Tertiary Institutions to Expel Students Convicted of Kidnapping

Customs Unveils 3,852 Successful Recruits, Adopts Annual Employment Exercise The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the release of the final list of 3,852 successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise and unveiled plans to institutionalise annual recruitment to ensure continuous manpower renewal. Speaking at a press briefing, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the successful applicants were selected across three entry cadres, with 1,275 recruited into the Superintendent Cadre, 367 into the Inspectorate Cadre, and 2,210 into the Customs Assistant Cadre. Adeniyi said the publication of the final list marks the successful conclusion of the recruitment exercise, which commenced in December 2024. He apologised for the delay in completing the exercise, attributing it to the unprecedented number of applications received and the Service’s determination to conduct a transparent, credible and merit-driven recruitment process. According to the Customs boss, the Service received 573,680 applications for just 3,852 available positions, making the exercise one of the most competitive in the agency’s history. He explained that all applications underwent rigorous screening procedures, including computer-based examinations, verification of credentials against the National Identity database, and additional checks where inconsistencies were detected. He noted that candidates who made the final list would still undergo physical and medical examinations before receiving final approval from the Nigeria Customs Service Board. Adeniyi disclosed that the overall success rate was 0.67 per cent, meaning only one out of every 148 applicants secured a place in the exercise. Breaking down the figures, he said the Superintendent Cadre attracted 276,995 applications for 1,275 vacancies, representing one successful applicant out of every 217 candidates. The Inspectorate Cadre recorded 128,604 applications for 367 positions, making it the most competitive category with one successful candidate for every 350 applicants, while the Customs Assistant Cadre received 168,081 applications for 2,210 vacancies, translating to one successful applicant for every 76 candidates. He encouraged unsuccessful applicants not to be discouraged, stressing that many met the required qualifications but could not be accommodated because of the limited vacancies and intense competition. The Comptroller-General said the recruitment reflected the Federal Character principle, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory represented. Each state was allocated 105 slots, comprising 35 positions in the Superintendent Cadre, 10 in the Inspectorate Cadre and 60 in the Customs Assistant Cadre, while the FCT received 72 slots under the approved allocation formula. On gender representation, Adeniyi revealed that women accounted for 839 successful candidates, representing 21.8 per cent of the total intake, slightly higher than their 21.2 per cent share of the total applications received. He added that female applicants recorded a marginally higher success rate than their male counterparts, particularly in the Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to encouraging greater female participation in future recruitment, especially in operational and enforcement roles. According to him, the exercise also produced a youthful workforce, with a median age of 26 years and nearly three-quarters of the successful candidates below the age of 30. He said the youthful intake would strengthen the Service’s capacity to embrace modern customs administration driven by technology, data analytics and automated risk management. Adeniyi further announced that the Nigeria Customs Service would now conduct recruitment exercises annually instead of waiting several years between recruitment cycles. He disclosed that the 2026 recruitment exercise would commence later this year, expressing confidence that future recruitment would be completed within a single calendar year, from advertisement to the publication of the final list. According to him, the digital systems, screening architecture and verification processes developed during the current exercise would significantly shorten future recruitment timelines. He explained that the annual recruitment policy would enable the Service to plan its workforce more effectively, promptly replace retiring personnel and provide qualified Nigerians with predictable employment opportunities. The Comptroller-General advised successful candidates to rely only on official Nigeria Customs Service communication channels for further instructions, reiterating that recruitment into the Service remains completely free. He urged members of the public to report anyone demanding money in exchange for employment, describing such individuals as fraudsters. Congratulating the successful candidates, Adeniyi reminded them that they earned their positions through a rigorous and highly competitive process and urged them to uphold the professionalism, discipline and integrity expected of officers of the Nigeria Customs Service. He also assured unsuccessful applicants that another opportunity would be available later this year under the newly introduced annual recruitment programme.

Presidency Rebuts Atiku’s Criticism, Says Tinubu’s Borrowing Supports Economic Growth

Presidency Rebuts Atiku’s Criticism, Says Tinubu’s Borrowing Supports Economic Growth

FG’s Renewed Hope Skills Programme Equips Nigerians With Practical Skills For Self-Reliance

FG’s Renewed Hope Skills Programme Equips Nigerians With Practical Skills For Self-Reliance

FG’s Renewed Hope Skills Programme Equips Nigerians With Practical Skills For Self-Reliance

FG’s Renewed Hope Skills Programme Equips Nigerians With Practical Skills For Self-Reliance

Tinubu, APC Chair, Political Big Wigs Grace Humanitarian Affairs Minister’s Daughter’s Wedding

Tinubu, APC Chair, Political Big Wigs Grace Humanitarian Affairs Minister’s Daughter’s Wedding

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *