FirstBank sponsors maiden Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship
FirstBank has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth football tournament organised to honour the late Nigerian football legend renowned
- By Israel Olamilekan
FirstBank has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth football tournament organised to honour the late Nigerian football legend renowned for his patriotism, discipline, and commitment to national service.
The tournament will engage secondary schools from all 36 states and the FCT in a two-stage competition. The first stage will feature zonal eliminations across the six geopolitical zones, followed by a national final in Abuja involving the top 12 qualifying teams. The event will also include cultural displays, memorial lectures, and talent-scouting opportunities by national team coaches.
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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."
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Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, commended FirstBank for its support. 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 a consistent role in promoting football and sports development across Nigeria. The bank owns the Elephant Boys Football Team, currently competing in the Nigerian National League, and the FirstBank Basketball Club — popularly known as the Elephant Girls.
The bank has also supported youth and sporting initiatives including the National Sports Festival, the 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.
FirstBank's sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Tournament underscores its commitment to national unity, community empowerment, and youth development.
