Twelve secondary schools from different parts of the country will compete for top honours in the 2025 edition of the MILO Basketball National Championship.
This year’s edition will mark the 25th edition, marking the silver jubilee of Nigeria’s premier grassroots basketball tournament, and it will run between June 20 and 27, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
From the Boys’ teams that qualified for the national finals, include, Government Secondary School (Adamawa), Bishop Dimieari Grammar School (Bayelsa), Government Secondary School Gwarinpa Life Camp (FCT), Ahmadiyya College (Kano), David Hall College (Lagos), and Father O’Connell Science College (Niger State).
The girls’ teams are Government Girls Secondary School (Adamawa), St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School (Bayelsa), Government Secondary School (FCT), Ahmadiyya College (Kano), Lanre Leke Academy (Osun), and Onireke High School, GRA (Oyo State).
Speaking at the draw ceremony in Lagos, Nestlé Nigeria Plc Managing Director Wassim Elhusseini highlighted the competition’s growth and impact.
“It is gratifying indeed that a championship which began with a pilot edition in 1999 in the South West geographical zone of the country has gained national and international prominence as a truly successful experience in grassroots talent development,” Elhusseini said.
“The tournament has continued to enjoy a rising profile due to the unwavering commitment of its sole sponsor and our worthy host, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, which has left a lasting legacy worthy of emulation by other corporate organisations in Nigeria.”
Elhusseini also noted the championship’s role in producing elite basketball talents who have gone on to represent Nigeria internationally.
Category Manager for beverages at Nestlé Nigeria, Ifeanyi Orabuche, reiterated the company’s belief in the values sport instils. “For the past 25 years, Nestlé MILO has passed the belief that sport is one of the greatest teachers to nurture future leaders through the values that sport instils: grit, resilience, leadership and, very importantly, respect,” Orabuche said.
“This championship has become a symbol of that vision, empowering over 150,000 children annually and over 1.5 million children in the last 25 years across Nigeria to discover their strength, express their talents and step into their potential.”
President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Colonel Sam Ahmedu, praised the tournament as a foundational element in the development of basketball in the country. “This championship is more than a game, it is a legacy. It has laid the groundwork for the success we see in Nigerian basketball today,” Ahmedu said.
President of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, said this year’s tournament holds additional significance. A selected group of standout players from the finals will form a national team to represent Nigeria at the Africa School Games, scheduled for July 25 to August 6 in Algeria.
“This year a team of selected players at the finals will make a formidable team to represent Nigeria at the Africa School Games from 25th July to 6th August in Algeria. This is in collaboration with and approval of the National Sports Commission and the Nigerian Olympic Committee,” Joseph said.
