Lagos, March 31, 2026 — FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has announced its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship, a nationwide competition designed to promote grassroots football and honour late Nigerian football icon Samuel Okwaraji.
The championship will feature secondary schools from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT in a two-stage format. Regional qualifiers will be held across the six geopolitical zones, culminating in a grand finale in Abuja, where the top teams will compete for national honours. The event will also include cultural displays, memorial lectures, and talent scouting opportunities led by national team coaches.
Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director and CEO of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, highlighted the unifying power of football and its role in youth development. He noted that the Bank’s investment in grassroots sports aims to inspire discipline, discover young talents, and create opportunities for the next generation to thrive both academically and athletically.
Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, Senator Osita Izunaso, commended FirstBank for its commitment, describing the sponsorship as a strong example of corporate leadership in nation-building. He urged other organisations to support initiatives that create pathways for young people to excel through sports and education.
Through its First@Sports initiative, FirstBank continues to play a pivotal role in the development of sports in Nigeria. 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.” It has also backed major 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 Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Championship further reinforces FirstBank’s commitment to national unity, youth empowerment, and community development through sports.
