LAGOS,  The 26th edition of the Milo Basketball Championship has officially begun, with Government Secondary School Zing, Taraba State, and Family Support Programme, Katsina, emerging winners at the Savannah Conference regional finals held in Kano.

The Savannah Conference finals took place at the Sanni Abacha Indoor Sports Hall, Kano, where young basketball players competed for the opportunity to advance to the national stage.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Opeyemi Jaiyeola, Category Development Manager, who represented Category Manager Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah, reflected on the growth of the Milo Basketball Championship since its launch.

She noted that the initiative, which began in 1999 with fewer than 500 schools, has grown into a nationwide movement involving more than 12,000 schools annually.

According to her, the continued growth of the championship is driven by dedication, consistency and the belief that every child should have an opportunity to discover their abilities and reach their potential.

Zing Takes Girls’ Title

In the girls’ final, Government Secondary School Zing, Taraba State, defeated Government Girls College Unity School, Bauchi, 53–43 in a closely contested match.

Zing’s Happy Sylvester was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after an impressive performance that saw her score 38 points.

Katsina Wins Boys’ Final

The boys’ final produced an even closer contest, with Family Support Programme, Katsina, edging Government Secondary School Numan, Adamawa State, 64–63.

Friday Emmanuel of Katsina was named the boys’ MVP after contributing 22 points to his team’s narrow victory.

The regional finals attracted dignitaries from the Kano State Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as representatives of the media, Olympic Commission and key basketball stakeholders.

Representatives of organisations including the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Nigerian Colleges of Sports Federation (NCSF) and FIBA also attended the event.

Focus Shifts to Central Region

With the Savannah Conference finals concluded, attention now moves to the Central Region Finals, scheduled to take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of Mogadishu Barracks.

Teams from the Central Region will battle for a place at the National Finals in Lagos, scheduled for July.

The Milo Basketball Championship continues to provide young Nigerians with a platform to develop their sporting talents while promoting discipline, teamwork and healthy competition among students.

Editorial Contact:
Lois Nweke
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Specialist
Email: Lois.Nweke@ng.nestle.com