Leading financial institution, FirstBank, has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth tournament created to honour late Nigerian football icon Samuel Okwaraji.
Newsonspot reports that the competition will bring together secondary school teams from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in a two-stage format. Zonal eliminations will take place across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with the top 12 teams advancing to the grand finale in Abuja.
Beyond football, the tournament will feature cultural performances, memorial lectures, and talent scouting sessions by national team coaches, blending sports development with social impact.
Speaking on the initiative, FirstBank’s Managing Director and CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu, highlighted football as a powerful unifying force in Nigeria. He noted that the bank is deliberately investing in grassroots football to nurture young talents and inspire the next generation of national stars.
Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, Osita Izunaso, commended FirstBank for its commitment to nation-building through sports. He praised the bank’s longstanding legacy and called on other corporate organisations to support youth development initiatives.
Through its First@Sports programme, FirstBank has maintained a strong presence in Nigerian sports. The bank owns the Elephant Boys Football Team competing in the Nigerian National League, as well as the FirstBank Basketball Club, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls.”
Over the years, the bank has supported several sporting events, including the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship, Lagos Amateur Golf Open, and the Georgian Polo Cup.
The sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Championship further reinforces FirstBank’s dedication to youth empowerment, community development, and national unity through sports.
