Defending Champions Father O’Connell Begin MILO Basketball Title Defence As National Finals Tip Off In Lagos

Defending champions Father O’Connell Science College of Niger State will begin their quest for a second consecutive title when the 2026 MILO National Secondary Schools Basketball Championship finals tip off in Lagos.

The prestigious tournament, which runs from 27 June to 3 July at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, will bring together the country’s top boys’ and girls’ school teams in a week-long battle for national honours.

Father O’Connell secured last year’s title with a thrilling 66-64 victory over Bishop Dimieari Grammar School of Bayelsa State in a dramatic final and will launch their title defence against King Amakree Academy of Degema, Rivers State.

The boys’ competition also features Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Life Camp (FCT), Davidhall International College, Ikoyi (Lagos), Family Support Programme Secondary School (Katsina), and Urhobo College, Effurun (Delta), promising another fiercely contested championship.

In the girls’ category, 2025 runners-up Lanre Leke Academy of Osun State will be eager to go one step further after falling 55-42 in last year’s final. They begin their campaign against St Jude’s Amarata Girls Secondary School of Bayelsa State.

The girls’ line-up is completed by Government Secondary School, Gboko (Benue), Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti (Ekiti), Urhobo College, Effurun (Delta), and Government Girls College, Bauchi.

Speaking during the tournament draw, Managing Director of Nestlé Nigeria, Waseem ElHusseini, represented by the company’s Commercial Director, Boladale Odunlami, said the championship has evolved into one of Nigeria’s foremost school sports competitions since its inception 26 years ago.

According to him, the competition was established to provide young Nigerians with a platform to discover their talents, build confidence and develop life skills that extend beyond the basketball court.

“This championship began with a simple ambition of creating opportunities for young Nigerians to discover their talents, build confidence and develop the values that make champions both on and off the court,” ElHusseini said.

“Today, that vision has grown into one of the country’s most recognised school sports platforms, bringing together athletes, schools, coaches, teachers and families from across Nigeria.”

He revealed that more than 13,000 schools participated in this year’s competition before the field was narrowed to the finalists, describing the tournament as a celebration of discipline, determination and excellence.

ElHusseini also paid tribute to the coaches, teachers and parents whose dedication has helped sustain the championship over the years.

“As we begin the national finals, we are not only bringing together the best teams in Nigeria, but also celebrating inspiring stories of hard work, perseverance and personal growth. While the next champions will be decided on the court, the values these young athletes have acquired will remain with them long after the competition ends,” he added.

President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Mrs Olabisi Joseph, commended Nestlé Nigeria for its unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development, describing the MILO Basketball Championship as a transformative initiative that has positively impacted thousands of young Nigerians.

She stressed that sport remains an essential component of quality education and praised the company for sustaining the competition for more than two decades.

“It is impossible to have a complete education without sports, and that is the opportunity Nestlé has consistently provided for Nigerian children over the past 26 years,” Joseph said.

“The MILO Basketball Championship has become a household name in schools across the country. Every year, students eagerly look forward to participating in this life-changing competition.

“Nestlé is not merely sponsoring a basketball tournament; it is building a lasting legacy for Nigeria. Through school sports, young people learn discipline, teamwork, unity and leadership—values that will continue to shape them long after they leave the basketball court.”

With the nation’s finest school teams assembled in Lagos, another exciting chapter of the MILO Basketball Championship is set to unfold as the race for national supremacy begins.