Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State and Government
Secondary School, Karu,
FCT have emerged champions
in the girls and boys categories respectively at the Central Conference of the
22nd Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.
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In
the girls category, Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State defeated their Queen
Amina College, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna State counterparts 35 to 31 to emerge
champions while the boys from Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT outclassed
their Father O’Conel Science College, Minna, Niger State opponents 34 to 23 in
a thrilling encounter.
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Speaking on this 2nd of the
four series Conferences, Category Manager for Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr.
Olutayo Olatunji said, “At MILO, we believe that through participation in
sports, children learn grit and imbibe values that help them on their journey
to success in life. We are therefore committed to the MILO Secondary Schools
Basketball Championship in Nigeria. We are delighted that we are able to return
the Championship after a break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to
developing talents, enforcing healthier lifestyle, and instilling values and
lessons for success in life through this Championship. The MILO Secondary
Schools Basketball Championship will continue to provide the opportunities for
developing qualities including leadership skills, ability to work in a team,
perseverance, courage, selfbelief, and respect in these young ones who
participate. We are grateful to our partners – the Nigeria Schools Sports
Federation (NSSF) and the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF) for
their support over the last 22 editions”.
The Chairman of the Kwara
State sports council Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, who was special guest at the
Conference finale said “I am a beneficiary of MILO sports development in
Nigeria myself. I participated in the now rested MILO Squash Championship in
Lagos many years ago. MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship is a very
good development for all basketball players. As these students have gathered
from different states for a bigger competition, they will be encouraged to take
the sport more seriously and enjoy all the benefits of playing and
participating. We thank MILO for continuing to be a pillar of spots in
Nigeria.”
The Central Conference was hosted at the Ilorin
Township Stadium in the Kwara
State capital from the 14th to 20th of May
2022. The States that make up this
Conference are Niger,
Nasarawa, Plateau and host Kwara. Others are Benue, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and
the F.C.T (Abuja). The Champions in both the male and female categories of this
Conference will compete with winners from the Savanna Conference held in Kano
from the 7th to 13th of May as
well as the other two future Conferences – Equatorial Conference, Enugu: 21st –
27th May and Western Conferences, Ibadan: 28th May – 3rd June in the national
final at the indoor sports hall of the national stadium in Surulere, Lagos from
June 25 to July 01, 2022.
For over 2 decades, MILO has emphasised the importance of
grit to teach schoolchildren vital life values such as determination, tenacity,
endurance, perseverance, teamwork and self-confidence, using the Milo Secondary
Schools Basketball Championship as a platform.
Nestlé will continue to support grassroot sports development in Nigeria in
line with its purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life
for everyone today and for generations to come.
The next Conference of the
22nd Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship –
Equatorial Conference – will take place in Enugu from 21st – 27th May 2022.
