The 26th edition of the Milo Basketball Championship has kicked off with exciting performances at the Savannah Conference regional finals held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Sports Hall in Kano.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Category Development Manager, Mrs. Opeyemi Jaiyeola, who represented Category Manager Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah, highlighted the growth of the championship since its inception in 1999. She noted that the competition, which began with fewer than 500 schools, has expanded into a nationwide platform involving more than 12,000 schools annually.
According to her, the success of the initiative is driven by dedication, consistency, and a commitment to helping young talents discover their abilities and achieve their potential.
In the girls’ category, Government Secondary School Zing from Taraba State defeated Government Girls College Unity School, Bauchi, with a 53–43 victory in a thrilling final match. Happy Sylvester emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after delivering an outstanding performance and scoring 38 points for her team.
The boys’ final also produced a dramatic contest as Family Support Programme, Katsina, edged Government Secondary School Numan of Adamawa State 64–63. Friday Emmanuel was named MVP in the boys’ category after contributing 22 vital points to secure the narrow victory.
The championship attracted officials and stakeholders from the Kano State Ministries of Education and Youth and Sports, alongside representatives from the media, Olympic Commission, NSSF, NCSF, and FIBA.
Following the conclusion of the Savannah Conference finals, focus will now shift to the Central Region Finals scheduled to hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of Mogadishu Barracks. Participating teams will battle for qualification to the National Finals set for Lagos in July.
