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U-17 Cricket Female Nat. Championship: South-South Emerges Champions Beat South West

Published

6 years ago

September 30, 2019

…Boys Category commences Oct. 3rd.

Joel Ajayi

South-South zone part of Nigeria on Sunday at the Cricket Oval, of the MKO Abiola National Stadium package B, in Abuja beat their counterparts from South West zone to emerged champions at final of the maiden edition of National U-17 Cricket Championship by 84 runs.

The tournament Organized by Nigeria Cricket Federation in Collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), saw 5 zones in participation started on Friday 27th September after a zonal elimination series successfully concluded across 5 geo-political zones of the country.

On the Final games, South-South won the toss and elected to bat scoring a massive total of 114 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 15 overs.

In the second innings, South West could barely produce a decent partnership and batsmen crumbled like pack of cards to the superior fire power of the South- South bowlers. In the end, South West could only manage a meager score of 30 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 15 overs.

South-South therefore won by 84 runs and was crowned the champions of the first edition.

In his addressed the President of the Federation Professor Yahaya Adam Ukwenya , represented by Mr Patrick Erimona, Board member of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, delivered a heartwarming speech on behalf of the board, extending her immense gratitude to PricewaterhouseCoopers for their sponsorship of the tournament.

He assured that NCF will not relax its oar to ensure the growth of the game that will bring growth and development of Nigeria at large.

Speaking at the event PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), sponsors of the tournament and led by Mr. Tolu Adeleke expressed satisfaction of the entire event saying that the desire of the PwC is to develop many champion in sports.

“We are very happy that this is happening,. We are very excited to see this tournament seen the light of the day, we also would want to say that this is the beginning of it for us, as you can see we are not disappointed in any way we are going to continue in that light to ensure the youth, the children are introduced into the Games of cricket and by in a short time from now, we’ll have the whole country turned into a hope for Cricket.”

Mr Adeleke therefore encouraged the young girls on the need to improve of their studies urging them not to toil away with their education.

on his own, the elated head coach of South-South team Peter Esewi expressed: “Actually, I don’t really know how to thank my player and Almighty God for this victory I think our resilient and hard work pay us today.

“We are really putting in our little time, we are starting from the Grassroots. We trained three times a week for this tourney. We shall continuing in our plan and work to ensure we develop the cricket in our zone and Nigeria at large.

After the three days tournament South-South came first, South-West Runner-up, while South-East, North-Central and North-west came 3rd, 4th and 5th position respectively.

Also diffrent gifts item were given to all participants while winning trophies and individuals award was equally given to the players courtesy of PwC

INDIVIDUAL AWARD CATEGORIES

• Best Batsman————————–Ogechi George (South-South)

• Best Bowler—————————-Oni Sunmisola (South West)

• Best Fielder—————————-Peace Monday (South South)

• Most Valuable Player—————Peace Monday (South –South)

ZONAL AWARDS

• South-South————————–Edo State

• South East—————————-Ebonyi State

• South West—————————Oyo State

• North Central————————Niger State

• North West—————————Kaduna State

Meanwhile, the Boys tournament sponsor by thesame PwC is scheduled to take place from the 3rd to 6th of October 2019 insde the Abuja national Stadium ovals.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

7 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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