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By Bolaji Okunola
The 2025 Nigeria Bankers Games has been full of drama, rivalries and premium entertainment.
The football event has seen traditional heavyweights continue to pull their weight in the race for the Championship trophy.
After the group games, Wema Bank qualified for the semifinals by topping their group, just as three banks scaled the quarterfinal hurdles to reach the semifinals.
Defending Champions, Sterling Bank, a resurgent UBA and last year’s finalists, FCMB. Wema Bank and UBA will trade tackle while Sterling Bank will face FCMB in the repeat of the 2024 finals.
In the women’s category, Sterling Bank and Access Bank will do battle for the gold medal in the final, while First Bank squares up with FCMB in the third-place match.
The men’s semifinals and women’s final is slated for November 30 at the Unilag Sports Centre.
Sterling Bank, Wema Bank strike volleyball gold medal
Men’s Volleyball featured for the first time in the Nigeria Bankers Games, and the lads came prepared. All six participating teams came with their A Games – Sterling Bank, Access Bank, FCMB, First Bank, UBA and Wema Bank.
After three weeks of high-velocity volleyball games, Sterling Bank faced off against Access Bank in the finals and emerged victorious in two sets to claim the maiden gold.
In the women’s category, Wema Bank successfully defended the gold they won last season by defeating FCMB. Wema Bank won by two straight sets to retain the title for the third time consecutively.
UBA, Wema, Access Bank dominate in Scrabble
Scrabbles took centre stage at the ongoing Nigeria Bankers Games 2025, and as early as 9.30 am, all participants were seated and fully engaged in the word power game.
The men’s event was a battle for the ages, with a lot of impressive performances on display. After four round robin rounds and 2 Kings of the Hills, the medal table became clear.
The duo of Adegboyega Oduwole, who had a perfect score, and Samuel Onifade of UBA won gold and silver, respectively. Sterling Bank’s Bright Uzu claimed the bronze medal.
In the women’s category, they kept up the tempo as they closely matched each other in the rounds. In the end, it was all smiles for Funmilola Okusanya of Wema as she won the gold medal. Access Bank’s duo of Eminence Lucky and Ameedah Raji closed out the podium with silver and bronze, respectively.
The 2025 Nigeria Bankers Games continues on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30, with the Yabatech Sports Complex playing host for the athletics finals and the Unilag Sports Complex hosting the women’s football finals and the men’s semifinals.
