By Baba Shehu Oscu, Bauchi
The week long 21th edition of Milo National Schools Basketball championship came to an end with Bauchi State representaves, General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College emerging as winners in the boys category while in the girls category, Adamawa took first after beating Gombe State representaves. 24-18 points at the final.
The closing ceremony of the Under-17 National Milo schools championship took place at the Multi Purpose Indoors Sports Hall, Bauchi, where General Murtala Ramat College Maiduguri from Borno and Ahmadiyya College Kano placed 2nd and 3rd in the Boys category respectively.
Government Science Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State were 3rd in the girls category.
The championship attracted 18 secondary schools from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno,Gombe, Kano, Plateau and Taraba states all from northern part of the country, where 40 matches were played.
The Director, Schools Sports, Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Alhaji Adamu Mohammed Ghali, while thanking officials and participating states for honouring to participate in this year’s edition, commended the organisers for sustaining the game for 21 years which produced young grassroots players that are today keeping the game alive in the country.
He said Nestle, producers of Milo, has contributed greatly in the educational and economic development of Nigeria because each state hosting the championship it economy improves as they must be buying and selling the beverage.
Besides, it also create interactions amongst participants where new friends are made which serves as weapon for national security and development.
Ghali also commended Bauchi State Government for it contributions towards ensuring a colourful and successful hosting of the championship by providing all necessary facilities.
In his speech, the Branch Manager, Nestle Nigeria plc, North-East, Mr. Olufemi Omole, congratulated both winners and losers in the tournament saying the losers should not consider themselves as failures but challenge them to put more efforts to prepare for the next edition.
He said Nestle has played its role for 21 years in Nigeria in its corporate social responsibility.
He assured that Nestle will continue to support the development of schools sports particularly the game of Basketball in Nigeria.
He appreciated Bauchi fans for coming out in large numbers to watch the championship including all officiating officials that made the competition hitch-free and by achieving their target of fishing out young talents in both categories.
The Vice President, Nigeria schools Sports Federation, Mr. Emmanual Ebong, commended Nestle Plc for discharging its social responsibility in Nigeria as sponsors of National Milo schools Sports for 21years with the sole purpose of developing young boys and girls into the game of basketball for their purposeful future, unity and national development hoping that it will be reciprocated.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of certificates to the most valuable players, Bello Ibrahim Ilala in the boys category from Bauchi and Linda John Girls from Adamawa State, for girls while the GGSS, Jogana from Kano and Government Science Technical College, Bukuru in Plateau State arequirements fair play teams respectively.
The first and second positions in the boys and girls categories, were presented with trophys and awards of N100.000 each for sports development in their respective schools.
Also Government Girls Secondary School, Doma and General Murtala Ramat College, Maiduguri received certificates and N70, 000 each while third placed GSSS, Zing and Ahmadiyya College, Kano received certificates and N50,000 each for sports development in their respective schools.
