2022: MILO Basketball Championship Ends as Bayelsa Schools Rule

The 22nd Milo Basketball Championship ended in great excitement as the boys fromBishop Dimieari Grammar School, Obom Bayelsa State defeated GovernmentSecondary School, Karu, FCT, 36 to 33 in a nail-biting encounter. The game was ina draw situation with each team holding 33 points and only 22 seconds left on the clock when the Bayelsa boys threw a three points from the center of the court thatcoincided with the final buzzer, sending the spectators into a moment of jubilation in a  different but one-sided encounter, the girls from St. Jude’s Secondary SchoolsA  Bayelsa State outclassed their counterparts from Akpur College, Gboko,Benue State by 38 to 14 to emerge winners in the girls’ category of the Champion.

Speaking at the basketball finals, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Mr. Wassim El-Husseini said, “The MILO Basketball
Championship provides a platform to help the participants imbibe values that set
the right foundation for their future. As they participate in sports, they learn grit –
perseverance through hardship, courage to overcome fear, ability to work in a team,
self-belief, respect, and leadership. We will therefore, continue to do our utmost to
help shape a healthier and happier generation of Nigerians by encouraging
participation in sporting activities through the MILO Basketball Championship.”
The Nestlé Chief Executive thanked the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF),
the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF), the Nigeria Basketball Federation
(NBBF), the Ministries of Sports, Youth Development and Education in the variousStates, for their support in ensuring the success of the Championship over the last22 editions.

Also speaking at the National Finals, The Minister of Youth and Sports DevelopmentMr. Sunday Dare who was represented by Professor Olawale Moronkola – DirectorGeneral of the National Institute for Sports said, “I wish to commend thecommitment, passion and financial support of Nestlé to the growth of basketball inthe country. It is heartwarming to note that this platform has become a gatheringfor discovering, nurturing and development of the so many budding talents in ourdear country.”

The Honourable Minister, through his representative also congratulated all the
participants and promised the federal government’s support to companies that
invest in support sport development.
The President of the Nigeria Schools’ Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph,
who spoke on this year’s Championship said, “Nestle Nigeria PLC has made
significant contribution to the growth of sports in Nigeria and the creation of a
bright future for young people by supporting and promoting basketball in schools.
The championship has served as a platform for showcasing and harnessing the
great potential of young Nigerian students and integrating them into the
mainstream of basketball.”

The MILO Basketball Championship which started with less than 500 schools in
1999, now brings together over 10,000 schools every year, with a record
registration of 10, 354 schools in the 22nd edition.