King Amakree Academy and GSS Gboko Claim First-Ever National Titles at the 26th MILO Basketball Championship

 

History was made at the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals as King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, and Government Secondary School (GSS), Gboko, Benue State, claimed their first-ever national titles, reinforcing the championship's enduring legacy as Nigeria's leading platform for discovering and developing young basketball talent.

 

Held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, the National Finals brought together the four conference champions from across the country alongside the two best-performing runners-up. Following an exciting group stage, the top teams advanced to the championship finals, where two new national champions emerged.

 

In the girls' final, Government Secondary School (GSS), Gboko, Benue State, defeated multiple-time champions St. Jude's Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, 68–36 to secure the school's first national title and complete an outstanding tournament campaign. Jersey No. 6, Ada Friday, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the girls' tournament.

The boys' final also produced a historic result as King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, defeated three-time national and returning champions Father O'Connell Science College, Niger State, 56–54 to lift the national trophy for the first time in the school's history. Jersey No. 8, Godswill Mene, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the boys' tournament.

 

For more than two decades, the MILO Basketball Championship has been at the heart of grassroots basketball development in Nigeria. This year's championship engaged more than 13,000 secondary schools across Nigeria through competitions held across the Savannah, Central, Atlantic and Western Conferences before culminating in the National Finals in Lagos, reflecting the championship's wide reach and enduring commitment to developing young talent across the country.

 

At its core, the MILO Basketball Championship is about more than basketball. It instils values such as discipline, resilience, confidence and teamwork while giving young people the opportunity to compete, grow and realise their potential. That commitment came to life at the 26th edition, where King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, and Government Secondary School (GSS), Gboko, Benue State, became first-time national champions, demonstrating that every young person has the potential to succeed.

 

Speaking at the National Finals, Wassim ElHusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, highlighted that the MILO Basketball Championship remains one of the ways Nestlé Nigeria continues to invest in youth development and create shared value.

"At Nestlé Nigeria, Creating Shared Value is at the heart of how we do business. We believe our success is closely connected to the well-being of the communities we serve. That is why we continue to invest in initiatives like the MILO Basketball Championship, creating opportunities for young people to realise their full potential. For 26 years, this championship has been about more than basketball. It has been a platform where young people learn discipline, teamwork, resilience and self-belief. These are qualities that not only make better athletes but also help shape responsible leaders and stronger communities," he said.

 

Echoing this commitment, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, Category Lead, MILO, said "This year's championship is a powerful reminder of what the MILO Basketball Championship stands for. At MILO, we believe every child has the potential to achieve something great when given the right support and opportunity. Seeing two schools become national champions for the first time shows that every participating team has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they come from or their history in the competition. It reinforces our commitment to providing a platform where young people can discover their potential, build character and realise their dreams through sport."

 

The championship also featured an inclusive wheelchair basketball exhibition match involving young para-athletes, reflecting MILO's commitment to inclusion and its belief in the potential of every child.

 

Winning teams received championship trophies, cash prizes, basketball kits and MILO products in recognition of their outstanding performances.

 

As the latest champions join the growing legacy of schools shaped by the championship, the MILO Basketball Championship continues to create opportunities for young Nigerians to discover their potential, build confidence and develop the values needed to succeed both on and off the court. Together with the MILO Building Champs initiative, which reached around 7 million children in 2025 through school-based physical activity programmes, the championship forms part of MILO's long-standing commitment to helping young Nigerians embrace active lifestyles, build character and realise their full potential through sport.