Bayelsa to Open Defence of Milo Schools Basketball Championship against FCT

Defending champions of the Boys Category of the Milo Schools Basketball Championships, Bishop Dimieari Grammar School from Ovom, Bayelsa State will Open the defence of their title against FCT’s Government Science Secondary School.

In the draw ceremony yesterday at the corporate headquarters of Nestle Nigeria Limited in Ilupeju, Lagos, Bayelsa State’s female team, St Jude’s Secondary School were also drawn to open their 2023 edition of the premier school basketball championship in the country against Delta State team.

Host Lagos State, represented by Topmost Secondary School will battle FCT girls in their opening game while Lagos boys will play Niger State team in the opening weekend of the the 23rd Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship.

Speaking earlier at the ceremony, Managing Director & Chief Executive, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Mr. Wassim El-Husseini, reiterated why the company has kept faith, sponsoring the championship for the growth of Nigerian youths.

“It has been 23 years of promoting grassroots sports development in Nigeria. 23 years of creating a platform for aspiring basketball players to attain their dreams.

“Our greatest motivation has been the success stories of previous participants in the championship, like Uju Ugoka and Christopher Ewaoche Obekpa, who play in Nigeria’s national teams and in prestigious clubs around the world today. Several older participants like Adeola Ajayi and Charles Okwandu are now coaches, giving back to their communities,” observed the Nestle CEO.

 El-Husseini confirmed that this year holds even greater significance as it is the first time that special needs children will participate in the MILO Basketball Championship. 

“At Nestlé, we are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We believe that everyone has great potential that can be maximized if they are given the right opportunities. We are therefore delighted that in collaboration  with our partners, Nestlé is creating a viable platform for differently abled children to demonstrate their basketball talent,” he observed.

He said that the company was very proud of the progress it has made “with our partners over these past 23 years, and will keep promoting discipline, determination, teamwork, friendship and respect through sports in our youth.

Since its inception, the MILO Basketball Championship has provided an avenue for helping children imbibe the right values for success in life. The values including perseverance through hardship, courage to overcome fear, ability to work in a team, self-belief, respect and leadership set the foundation for a productive future.  

Officials of the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF) present at the draw poured encomiums on Nestle for sustaining the sponsorship for 25 years.