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FirstBank, a leading financial institution in West Africa, has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth tournament designed to honour the late Nigerian football legend, Samuel Okwaraji, celebrated for his patriotism, discipline, and service to the nation.
The championship will bring together secondary schools from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), competing in a two-stage format. The opening phase will feature zonal eliminations across the six geopolitical zones, while the top teams will advance to a national final in Abuja, where 12 finalists will vie for honours.
In addition to the football competition, the event will feature cultural performances, memorial lectures, and talent identification sessions led by national team coaches, reinforcing its blend of sporting excellence and youth development.
Speaking on the sponsorship, FirstBank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, described football as a unifying force in Nigeria. He noted that the bank’s involvement in grassroots football is aimed at nurturing young talents and creating opportunities for the next generation to excel.
“Football is the strongest unifier of Nigerians… FirstBank is making a deliberate incursion into grassroots football development with this sponsorship, creating an enabling environment for the next generation of Samuel Okwarajis,” Alebiosu said.
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Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, Osita Izunaso, commended FirstBank for its support, highlighting the bank’s longstanding contribution to Nigerian sports. He praised the institution’s commitment to nation-building and urged other corporate organisations to support youth development through sports.
FirstBank, through its First@Sports initiative, has maintained a strong presence in Nigerian sports development over the years. The bank owns and supports several teams, including the Elephant Boys football team in the Nigerian National League and the FirstBank Basketball Club, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls.”
It has also consistently sponsored major sporting events such as the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship, the Lagos Amateur Golf Open Championship, and the Georgian Polo Cup.
The sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Championship further underscores FirstBank’s commitment to youth empowerment, grassroots sports development, and national unity.
