2023: Nestle MILO Basketball Championship Winners
MBC 2023 SC 2: Players and officials of General Murtala Mohammed College Yola, Adamawa State receiving their trophy and MILO gifts from Rtd. Col. Sam Ahmedu, president of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Malam Haruna Mohammed Director of Special Duties representing the Kano State Commissioner for Education Alhaji Ya’u Abdulahi Yanshana, Funmilola Oyewole – Category Development Manager Beverages at Nestlé Nigeria PLC after winning the boys’ category of the Savannah Conference of the 23rd MILO Basketball Championship at the Indoor Hall of the Sanni Abacha stadium Kano on May 9, 2023.
Savannah Conference Lights up Kano: MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship 2023
The MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship, organized by Nestlé Nigeria, has been promoting the value of grit for over 23 years. This championship provides a platform for young basketball players to learn essential life skills such as resilience, persistence, stamina, cooperation, and self-belief. These values enable them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals in life. The recently concluded Savannah Conference of the 23rd MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship was no exception. It was held at the Sanni Abacha stadium in Kano from May 3 to May 10, 2022.
The Savannah Conference had participants from various states in Nigeria, including Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Zamfara, Kano, Gombe, Katsina, Bauchi, and Jigawa. Government Day Science Secondary School Jalingo in Taraba State and General Murtala Mohammed College, Yola in Adamawa State emerged victorious in the girls’ and boys’ categories, respectively. These winners will compete with winners of the Central Conference in Abuja, Equatorial Conference in Asaba, and Western Conference in Ibadan at the national finals in July 2023.
In the girls’ category, Government Day Science Secondary School Jalingo defeated Government Secondary School Numan, Adamawa State, by 19 points to 13 points. Happy Sylvester from Government Day Science Secondary School Jalingo, Taraba State, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. “I do not have words to say how I feel, but I am really, really excited. This is huge, and I never expected it, but with God all things are possible. I thank God, I thank MILO and I thank my teammates,” she said.
In the boys’ category, General Murtala Mohammed College Yola scored 39 points against 24 points scored by Dutse Model International College, Dutse, Jigawa State. Numan Dickson from General Murtala Mohammed College Yola, Adamawa State, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. “I am happy and extremely excited. Thanks to my teammates and coaches. They made my dream come true. I always wanted to be MVP since I started playing basketball, so, I am happy.”
Nestlé Nigeria has been leading grassroots sports development in Nigeria through its MILO Basketball Championship, contributing to the growth of many players in the Nigerian national teams and notable clubs across the world today. The Category Manager for Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr. Olutayo Olatunji, reiterated Nestle’s commitment to developing talents, promoting healthier lifestyles, and instilling values for success in life through sports. “MILO firmly believes that through participation in sports, children learn enduring values to help them achieve sustainable success in life,” he said. “We are therefore pleased to have this opportunity to provide a platform where young talents find expression through MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship. On the field of play, the teams depend on the discipline, perseverance, courage, self-belief, and respect that they imbibe during practice and through their interactions with each other. These life skills are not only for basketball; they equip the players to navigate their careers and to be productive in society. In a nutshell, the GRIT you learn in sport, you keep for life.”
From just a few schools at its commencement in 1999, MILO Secondary School Basketball championship reaches over 150,000 individual players from over 10,000 schools across Nigeria every year. Nestle Nigeria’s MILO Basketball Championship continues to provide a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and values, empowering them.
