Two outstanding teams – Government Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State
and Dutse Model International Secondary School, Jigawa State have emerged
champions in the boys and girls category respectively at the Savanna Conference of
the 22nd Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.
The girls from Government Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State, outclassed
their Government Girls Secondary School, Bukavu, Kano State counterparts 20 to 8
to emerge champions in the girls category while the boys from Dutse Model
International Secondary School, Jigawa State won by 51 to 23 against the boys
from Nigeria Tulip International College, Yobe, Yobe State in the boys category.
Arinze Nancy Nicholas, coach of Dutse Model International Secondary School,
Jigawa State sharing her excitement on behalf of her team for emerging winners of
the compeitition, said “I have had the dream of winning this trophy since 2016, and
today, I am happy that this dream has come to pass. I am also happy that we have
qualified for the finale in Lagos. We are optimistic that we can also come to Lagos
to win in the national finals.”
Category Manager for Beverages, Nestlè Nigeria, Mr. Olutayo Olatunji, reiterated
Nestle’s commitment to developing talents, enforcing healthier lifetyle, and instilling
values and lessons for success through sports. He said, “MILO, firmly believes that
through participation in sports, children learn life values that help them on their
journey to success.
“We are therefore happy to continue to provide this opportunity of the MILO
Secondary School Basketball Championship where these young ones can continue
to find the opportunities for developing qualities including leadership skills, ability to
work in a team, perseverance, courage, self-belief, and respect through their
participation. In a nutshell, ‘the GRIT you learn in sport, you keep for life’. We are
grateful to all who supported us to make another successful championship.
The Savanna Conference was hosted at the Sanni Abacha stadiun, Kano from the
8
th to 12th of May 2022. The States that make up this Conference are: Yobe, Borno,
Taraba, Zamfara, and host Kano. Others are Gombe, Katsina, Bauchi and Jigawa.
The Champions in both the male and female categories of this Conference will
compete with winners from the other three Conferences (Central- Ilorin: 14th – 20th
May, Equatorial – Enugu: 21st – 27th May, Western Ibadan : 28th May – 3rd June) in
the national final at the indoor sports hall of the national stadiun in Surulere, Lagos
from May 26 to June 30, 2022.
For over 2 dacades, MILO has emphasised the importance of grit to teach
schoolchildren vital life values such as determination, tenacity, endurance,
perseverance, teamwork and self-confidence. These values help them on their
journey to succeed in life.
Nestlè will continue to spearhead grassroot sports development in Nigeria through
its purpose of unlcoking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone
today and for generations to come.
The next conference of the Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship –
Central Conference – will take place in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital from 14th – 20th
May 2022.
