23rd Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship dunks off July 1

23rd Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship dunks off July 1

The 23 edition of the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools’Basketball national finals is slated to dunk off on Friday, July 1 at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Out of the schools that participated in the Nestlé’s Milo Basketball Game, Father O’Connell Science College, Minna, Niger State and Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT, have qualified to represent the North Central at the finals of the 23rd edition of the Nestle Milo Basketball championship in Lagos this year 2023.

To secure their place in national finals, O’Connell Science College Minna defeated Government Secondary School, Karu 53-49 in the boys finals while GSS Karu girls defeated their counterparts from Queen Amina College, Kakuri, Kaduna State 35-24 points. The both schools will be representing the North Central come the month of July in lagos

Some other teams that will be in Lagos for the national finals are winners from the already concluded Savannah Conference which was held in Kano from May 3-10 and winners from the two upcoming conferences – Atlantic Conference in Asaba from May 20-27 and Western Conference in Ibadan from May 30 – June 6.

Wassim El-Husseini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Nestle Nigeria Plc, disclosed this at a media parley on Monday.

His words; “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.

“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.

“We are very proud of the progress we have 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.

“So, I congratulate every school that registered for the tournament, and say well done to those who have made it to the National Finals.

“We look forward to receiving all our Finalists and basketball fans across all strata at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on 1st July, 2023.”

Similarly, the acting chairman, National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF), Mr. Iain Nelson assured that this year’s edition of the Championship has been packaged by the NSSF, NCSF and other Technical partners, to ensure that it remains exciting , while providing the requisite platform for our youths in Secondary Schools to attain their potentials in the game of basketball.

“To underscore the importance of this competition and the point already stated by our sponsors Nestle Nigeria Plc and partners, players discovered from this competition the past two decades have graduated to play in the National Leagues and also for the Nigerian National Teams. The list of these players are endless, however, but permit me to mention a few names as well for sake of emphasis.

“The positive impact of this championship is also endless and will require a whole day to list out as well. May I however seize this opportunity to thank the Managing Director and Staff of Nestle Nigeria Plc for their steadfastness in sponsoring this competition these past years.

“It is indeed commendable to note that while some corporate firms have pulled out of their sponsorship Agreements in other sports for various reasons, Nestle Nig PLC on its part continues to wax stronger with the sponsorship of this Championship in furtherance of its CSR Mantra.”