Joyce Onwuka
The 26th edition of the Milo Basketball Championship officially began with the successful conclusion of the Savannah Conference regional finals at the Sanni Abacha Indoor Sports Hall in Kano.
The opening address was delivered by Mrs. Opeyemi Jaiyeola, Category Development Manager, on behalf of Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah, Category Manager. In his speech, he reflected on the journey of the initiative, noting that, “Since 1999, what started with fewer than 500 schools has grown into a national movement, now engaging over 12,000 schools annually. This growth is not by chance. It’s a result of dedication, consistency, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to discover their strength and reach their full potential.”
The girls’ final saw a competitive contest between Government Secondary School Zing, Taraba State, and Government Girls College Unity School, Bauchi. After a hard-fought game, Zing triumphed with a 53–43 scoreline. Happy Sylvester of Zing was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), delivering a standout performance with 38 points.
In the boys’ final, Family Support Programme, Katsina secured a narrow 64–63 win over Government Secondary School Numan, Adamawa State. Friday Emmanuel of Katsina was named the MVP of the boys’ category, contributing 22 crucial points to his team’s victory.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the Kano State Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, media representatives, Olympic Commission representatives, and key partners, including NSSF, NCSF, and FIBA.
As the tournament progresses, attention now shifts to the Central Region Finals, which will take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of Mogadishu Barracks. Teams from the Central Region will compete for the chance to represent their region at the National Finals in Lagos this July.