FirstBank headlines Sam Okwaraji U-16 Championship to unearth future Eagles
The FirstBank Sam Okwaraji U-16 Championship has been unveiled as a major grassroots football initiative aimed at discovering the next generation of Nigerian football stars for the U-17 World Cup.
Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, made this known during the official unveiling of the maiden edition at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The tournament, organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation and headlined by FirstBank of Nigeria, is endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation, Nigeria School Sports Federation, NSC and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.
Olopade noted that the competition would serve as a pipeline for identifying talents capable of representing Nigeria on the global stage.
“This championship will discover talents that can represent Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup and impact millions of youths across the country,” he said.
The competition also seeks to immortalise the legacy of Samuel Okwaraji, whose life symbolised patriotism, discipline and excellence both on and off the pitch.
Managing Director of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, emphasised the bank’s strong commitment to youth empowerment through sports, describing the championship as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
“At FirstBank, we believe that the future of our nation lies in the potential of our young people. This championship is more than a competition—it is a platform for discovering talent, building character, and shaping future leaders.”
He noted that the bank’s decision to headline the tournament aligns with its long-standing tradition of supporting impactful national initiatives.
“We are proud to support the FirstBank Sam Okwaraji U-16 Championship because it reflects our core values of excellence, discipline and nation-building. Sports remains one of the most powerful tools for engaging young people positively.”
Alebiosu further stressed that the initiative would contribute to both sports development and social impact.
“Beyond football, this initiative will instil teamwork, resilience and a sense of purpose in these young athletes. We see this as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s human capital.”
He also called on other corporate organisations to support grassroots sports development across the country.
“No single institution can do it alone. We encourage more organisations to partner in initiatives like this to ensure that young talents across Nigeria are given the opportunity to thrive.”
Founder of the foundation, Osita Izunaso, described the tournament as a strong developmental platform, assuring that participating schools would benefit from full logistics, accommodation, medical services, officiating and security.
“Integrity is the foundation of this championship. We will ensure strict compliance with age verification and officiating standards,” he said.
Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, added that the initiative honours a national hero while inspiring young Nigerians to combine sports with education.
“We are celebrating a legend and encouraging young athletes to plan for life beyond football,” he said.
Dignitaries included NFF General Secretary, Sanusi Mohammed, SWAN president, Isaiah Benjamin, and LOC Chairman, 2027 Africa School Games, Lekan Alabi.
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