Zing, Taraba and Katsina Shine as 26th Milo Basketball Championship Begins in Kano

Zing, Taraba and Katsina Shine as 26th Milo Basketball Championship Begins in Kano

The 26th edition of the Milo Basketball Championship officially commenced with thrilling displays of talent and determination as the Savannah Conference regional finals concluded successfully at the Sanni Abacha Indoor Sports Hall in Kano.

The championship, which has continued to serve as a platform for nurturing young basketball talents across Nigeria, witnessed intense competition among participating schools from across the Savannah region.

Delivering the opening address on behalf of the Category Manager, Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah, the Category Development Manager, Mrs. Opeyemi Jaiyeola, reflected on the remarkable growth of the championship since its inception in 1999.

According to him, “What started with fewer than 500 schools has grown into a national movement, now engaging over 12,000 schools annually. This growth is not by chance. It’s a result of dedication, consistency, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to discover their strength and reach their full potential.”

In the girls’ final, Government Secondary School Zing of Taraba State emerged champions after defeating Government Girls College Unity School, Bauchi, 53–43 in a keenly contested encounter. The star of the match was Happy Sylvester of Zing, who delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 38 points to earn the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

The boys’ final produced another dramatic contest as Family Support Programme, Katsina State, edged Government Secondary School Numan of Adamawa State with a narrow 64–63 victory. Friday Emmanuel of Katsina was named the boys’ MVP after contributing 22 vital points to secure the title for his team.

The Savannah Conference finals attracted top dignitaries and stakeholders, including officials from the Kano State Ministry of Education, Kano State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, representatives of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Nigeria Council of School Sport Federation (NCSF), FIBA representatives, media organisations, and other strategic partners.

Following the successful conclusion of the Savannah Conference, attention now shifts to the Central Region Finals scheduled to hold at the Indoor Sports Hall, Mogadishu Barracks, where teams will compete for qualification to the National Finals set for Lagos in July.

The Milo Basketball Championship remains one of Nigeria’s foremost grassroots sports development initiatives, providing thousands of students nationwide with opportunities to showcase their talents, build discipline, and pursue sporting excellence.