FirstBank sponsors maiden Samuel Okwaraji U-16 football championship
First Bank of Nigeria has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth tournament organised in honour of late Nigerian football
- ...promotes education through school sports
- By Samuel Oamen
First Bank of Nigeria has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth tournament organised in honour of late Nigerian football legend, Samuel Okwaraji.
The competition is expected to feature secondary schools from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with matches to be played in two phases. The first stage will involve zonal eliminations across the six geopolitical zones, while the final stage will take place in Abuja, where 12 top teams will compete for the title.
Speaking on the sponsorship, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, said, “Football is the strongest unifier of Nigerians. It brings communities together, inspires discipline, and nurtures talents across the country. FirstBank is making a deliberate incursion into grassroots football development with this sponsorship, creating an enabling environment for the next generation of Samuel Okwarajis to discover, refine, and maximise their potential, thereby shaping the future of Nigerian football.”
In his remarks, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, commended FirstBank for throwing its weight around the championship.
He said, “FirstBank’s legacy predates modern Nigerian football. The bank has once again shown that true corporate leadership lies in nation-building. We thank FirstBank for their participation in this championship, and we hope that other corporates will take a leaf and provide an enabling environment for young ones to thrive in education through sports.”
Through its First@Sports initiative, FirstBank has sustained an unbroken role in promoting the development of football and sports across Nigeria. The Bank is invested in nurturing talent through its ownership of the Elephant Boys Football Team, currently competing in the Nigerian National League. The FirstBank Basketball Club, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls,” is also owned by the Bank.
The Bank has supported youth-oriented and sporting initiatives, including the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship for 35 years, the Lagos Amateur Golf Open Championship for 65 years, and the Georgian Polo Cup for 105 years.
The Bank’s sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Tournament underscores its commitment to national unity, empowering communities, and fostering youth development.
