Funmilola Oyewole, Sports Marketing Manager at Milo Beverages, discussed the growth and inclusion of the Milo National School Basketball Championship.
Speaking at the Basketball Hall of the Surulere National Stadium, where the finals of the competition took place on Friday, Oyewole stressed that this important grassroots event has successfully brought together participants from all over Nigeria.
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The event reaches all 36 states and the FCT, entailing a significant effort that begins with state preliminaries, progresses to state finals and culminates in regional conferences.
The finalists of these stages then compete in the national final.
“The championship is a national event, reaching all 36 states and the FCT,” Oyewole explained. “It is a significant effort, starting with the state prelims, moving to the state finals and then advancing to the regional conferences.
The finalists of these stages meet for the national final, which we are witnessing today.”
A notable aspect of this year’s championship is the inclusion of children with disabilities for the second year in a row.
Oyewole highlighted the strong commitment to increasing the participation of children with special abilities.
This year and last year, demonstrations were held to showcase their talents, with plans to provide more opportunities for these children to participate in sports in the future, showcasing their abilities within their limitations.
Looking ahead, Oyewole expressed his excitement for the upcoming 25th edition of the Milo Schools Basketball Championship.
“Next year will see the jubilee edition, which will mark 25 years of promoting grassroots sports in Nigeria.
We are already exploring partnerships to expand our efforts. “It will be a historic event with surprises in store.”
Oyewole also noted that this year’s edition has been very competitive and full of unexpected results.
Teams that had never made it to the regional finals made significant progress this year, showcasing the talent and dedication of the young athletes participating.
Today’s national finals are a testament to their hard work and the impact of the championship on the development and inclusion of grassroots sport.
As the Milo Schools Basketball Championship continues to grow, its impact on the development and inclusion of grassroots sport remains significant, fostering a love of basketball and providing opportunities for young athletes across Nigeria.
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