By Ayo Bada
Senior Correspondent, Lagos
Henson Demonstration School, Benin City and Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School, Lagos have emerged regional champions in the boys and girls categories of the 18th Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.
Henson Demonstration School got the better of hard-fighting Osadenis Mixed Secondary School in a well contested match at the Indoor Sport Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The match ended 46-37.
Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School gave the Lagos crowd something to cheer for as they defeated last year’s regional champion, Yejide Girls Grammar School Ibadan 34-22.
The two finalists will represent Western Conference in the National Finals in Asaba.
It is the first time the national finals will be played outside Lagos.
Deji Adeshoga, Nestle Nigeria branch manager, said Milo is a brand that is well known in Nigeria as the number one supporter of grassroots sports.
“For 20 years, Milo has been at the forefront of basketball development in Nigeria through the Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship, producing many top players in the sport,” he said.
Nestle Category Business Manager, Femi Akintola, reiterated the company’s resolve to continue to contribute its quota to the development of basketball in the country.
He said the company believes that sport is a suitable platform for youths to learn values such as honesty, teamwork, fair play, respect, adherence to rules, discipline, perseverance, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose.
“These are the motivating factor behind Nestlé’s commitment to this championship,” he stressed.
The Central Conference dunked off in Ilorin on Thursday, May 5 and will end on Thursday, May 12. Confluence Conference matches will hold in Lokoja from Friday, May 13 to Friday, May 20.
Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu will host Equatorial Conference games from Saturday, May 21 to Friday 27.
