FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide competition designed to promote grassroots football and honour late Nigerian football icon Samuel Okwaraji.
The tournament will feature secondary schools from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a two-phase format.
Zonal eliminations will be held across the country’s six geopolitical zones, with the top 12 teams advancing to the national finals in Abuja.
Beyond football, the championship will include cultural showcases, memorial lectures, and talent scouting sessions by national team coaches, aimed at blending sports development with education and social impact.
Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, described football as a unifying force in Nigeria.
He said the bank’s involvement reflects a deliberate investment in grassroots sports to nurture young talents and create opportunities for future stars.
Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, Osita Izunaso, commended FirstBank for supporting the initiative, noting that corporate participation plays a vital role in national development.
He urged other organisations to emulate such efforts in promoting education through sports.
FirstBank said the sponsorship aligns with its long-standing commitment to sports development under its First@Sports initiative.
The bank owns and supports teams such as the Elephant Boys Football Team in the Nigerian National League and the FirstBank Basketball Club, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls.”
Over the years, the bank has backed several sporting events, including the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship, Lagos Amateur Golf Open Championship, and the Georgian Polo Cup.
The sponsorship of the U-16 championship, according to the bank, reinforces its commitment to fostering youth development, promoting national unity, and empowering communities through sports.
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