Ajegunle-based Topfield College showcased their basketball prowess by clinching victory in both the girls’ and boys’ categories of the Western Conference during the 23rd MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.
The thrilling competition took place on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan.
In a closely contested encounter, Topfield College’s girls’ team triumphed over their counterparts from Kings International College, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State, with a final score of 36 points to 30 points.
The match showcased the exceptional skills and determination of the Ajegunle girls, ultimately securing their victory.
Following the footsteps of their female counterparts, the boys’ team from Topfield College displayed dominance on the court.
They outclassed the boys from Adedokun International School, Ota, Ogun State, with an overwhelming score of 48 points to 17 points. The one-sided game highlighted the formidable talent possessed by the Ajegunle boys’ team.
Expressing his elation, Mr. Godswill Anukaku, the coach of Topfield College, Ajegunle, Lagos, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the championship.
He expressed pride in their qualification for the nationals in Lagos, and vowed to strive for first place in both the boys’ and girls’ categories this year.
He acknowledged the team’s past performance in the nationals, where they finished in third place, and assured supporters of a better outcome this time.
The Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Mrs. C. A. Abioye, extended her appreciation to Nestlé for their unwavering support throughout the years. She urged other corporate entities to follow Nestlé’s lead and support school sports.
Mrs. Abioye also emphasized the Oyo State Government’s commitment to elevating sports, including the ongoing upgrade of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, which hosted the championship.
With their exceptional performance, both the girls and boys from Topfield College, Ajegunle, Lagos State, have now secured their spot in the national finals of the competition, set to take place in Lagos in July.
Joining them will be the winners from the previously concluded Savannah, Central, and Atlantic Conferences held in Kano, Abuja, and Asaba, respectively.
Mr. Olutayo Olatunji, the Category Manager for Beverages at Nestlé Nigeria, reaffirmed Nestlé’s dedication to developing talents and promoting healthier lifestyles through sports.
He emphasized the enduring values children learn from participating in sports, values that contribute to their success in various aspects of life.
The MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship serves as a platform for young talents to express themselves, while also instilling essential life skills such as resilience, persistence, cooperation, and self-belief.
Nestlé Nigeria’s MILO Basketball Championship has played a pivotal role in grassroots sports development for over 23 years.
Its impact can be seen in the growth of many players who have gone on to represent the Nigerian national teams and prestigious clubs worldwide.
The Western Conference of the MILO Basketball Championship witnessed fierce competition among teams from Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, and Anambra states.
This championship, which started with around 500 schools in 1999, now engages over 150,000 individual players from more than 10,000 schools across Nigeria annually.
