Business
FCT, Niger Shine at Nestlé MILO 2023 Basketball Championship
It was a dream come true for coach Emmanuel Biodun Tanko, head coach of Father O’Connell Science College, Minna, Niger State, as his team defeated their counterparts from Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT in the final of the boys’ category in the just concluded Central Conference of the MILO Basketball Championship.
According to Coach Tanko, his team lost to the same opponents last year in the same championship. On the team’s preparation on the road to victory this year, Coach Tanko said, “We had a 70-day period of training. During Ramadan, we were there. It is a testimony that hard work pays. Also, without God we would not have been able to achieve this feat.”
Captain of the winning team from Father O’Connell Science College, Minna, Niger State, Mahmood Mustapha Mohammed, thanked Nestlé MILO for supporting and sponsoring them. The young man who says his dream is to play with globally recognized stars in the National Basketball Association (NBA) one day, also said, “I want to give a big shout out to our parents and coaches for always being there for us and believing in us, trusting that we will come back with the trophy.”
The boys from Father O’Connell Science College, Minna, Niger State fought hard in a keenly contested encounter to defeat the boys from Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT with 53 points to 49. They were therefore crowned champions in the boys’ category at the Central Conference of the 23rd MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship held in Abuja from the 12th to the 19th of May 2023.
In the final game of the girls’ category of the championship, Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT defeated their counterparts from Queen Amina College, Kakuri, Kaduna State by 35 points to 24 points. Both Father O’Connell Science College, Minna, Niger State and Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT will represent the Central Conference at the national finals of the 23rd MILO Basketball Championship in Lagos in July.
Other teams who will be in Lagos for the national finals are winners from the already concluded Savannah Conference which held in Kano from the 3rd to the 10th of May and winners from the two upcoming conferences – Atlantic Conference in Asaba from 20th to 27th of May and Western Conference in Ibadan from May 30th to June 6th, 2023.
Category Manager for Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr. Olutayo Olatunji, reiterated Nestle’s commitment to developing talents, promoting healthier lifestyles, and instilling values for success in life through sports. “MILO, firmly believes that through participation in sports, children learn enduring values to help them achieve success
in life,” he said.
“We are therefore, pleased to have this opportunity to provide a platform where young talents find expression through MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship. On the field of play, the teams depend on the discipline, perseverance, courage, self-belief, and respect that they imbibe during practice and through their interactions with each other. These life skills are not only for basketball; they equip the players to navigate their careers and to be productive in society. In a nutshell, ‘the GRIT’ you learn in sport, you keep for life.”
Nestlé Nigeria’s MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship has been promoting the value of grit for over 23 years, helping schoolchildren learn essential life skills such as resilience, persistence, stamina, cooperation, and self-belief. These values enable them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals in life.
Nestlé continues to lead grassroot sports development in Nigeria through its MILO Basketball Championship, contributing to the growth of many players in the Nigerian national teams, and notable clubs across the world today.
States which competed in the Central Conference of the MILO Basketball Championship at the Indoor Sports Hall, Package ‘B’ of the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja from the 12th to 19th of May, 2023 are Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, and host FCT. Others are Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Benue and Sokoto states.
The MILO Basketball Championship has grown tremendously from about 500 schools at its commencement in 1999. It now reaches over 150,000 individual players from over 10,000 schools across Nigeria every year.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) has been named the strongest Nigerian brand in the 2025 Brand Finance Banking 500 report, making a remarkable leap from its 9th position in 2024.
With a brand strength score of 92.4 out of 100 and a coveted AAA+ rating, UBA now leads the pack among Nigerian brands, reaffirming its status as a trusted and innovative banking institution.
Brand Finance, a globally recognized independent brand valuation consultancy, highlighted UBA’s outstanding performance across key brand metrics, including familiarity, preference, and consideration within its home market. This performance contributed to UBA’s climb in the rankings, not only as Nigeria’s strongest brand but also as the 13th strongest banking brand globally among 500 evaluated.
“This year’s ranking is no coincidence; it is the result of deliberate planning, strategic investments, and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction,” said Alero Ladipo, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA. “We remain committed to adapting to the evolving landscape while consistently delivering exceptional value.”
UBA’s performance was bolstered by its strong customer loyalty and trust. It scored particularly high in price acceptance, outperforming other leading African banks such as Capitec (South Africa) and Equity Bank (Kenya). These scores reflect UBA’s consistent value delivery and competitive pricing, earning it a solid reputation across its operating regions.
The bank’s rise is also attributed to its sustained investment in digital banking, innovation, and customer-centric technologies. Over the past year, UBA has prioritized digital transformation to enhance user experience and deepen customer engagement—an approach that aligns with current trends in Africa’s rapidly evolving financial services landscape.
Operating in 20 African countries and with offices in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, UBA serves more than 45 million customers worldwide. With a workforce of 25,000, it remains one of the largest employers in the African financial sector.
UBA’s strong performance in the Brand Finance report underscores a broader strategy focused on brand equity, innovation, and customer satisfaction, positioning it as a leader in shaping the future of banking in Africa and beyond.
Access Bank PLC has once again emerged as Nigeria’s most valuable brand, securing the top position for the fourth consecutive year in the latest “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. This achievement reaffirms Access Bank’s sustained brand leadership and its impact on the financial landscape through innovation, customer-centricity, and strategic growth.
The 2025 report shows that banks now account for 59% of the total brand value in the ranking, reflecting the strength and influence of the sector in shaping Nigeria’s economic future.
The Nigeria 25 2025 ranking also highlights considerable shifts in the country’s strongest brands, with banking brands rising through the ranks to dominate the top 10.
This demonstrates a growing recognition of the sector’s resilience and adaptability, particularly as financial services play an increasingly crucial role in driving Nigeria’s economy forward.
Babatunde Odumeru, Managing Director, Brand Finance Nigeria, noted that, “Nigerian banking brands continue to grow, successfully navigating a challenging economic landscape with strategic agility while also maintaining customer loyalty.”
Commenting on the ranking, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, said: “This recognition as Nigeria’s most valuable brand for the fourth year running is a testament to the strength of our people, our customers’ trust, and the strategic clarity that drives everything we do. At Access Bank, we remain committed to delivering value through innovation, financial inclusion, and impactful partnerships across Africa and beyond.”
Also speaking on the milestone, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, stated: “Access Bank’s brand leadership reflects the Group’s long-term vision of becoming the world’s most respected African financial institution. As we continue to evolve and expand our footprint, we are focused on delivering sustainable growth, deepening stakeholder trust, and enhancing the customer experience across all our markets.”
Access Bank’s performance in the ranking showcases the results of sustained brand investment, operational excellence, and strategic expansion across Africa, with a growing presence in key global markets.
The dominance of banks in the “Nigeria 25 2025” list further reinforces investor and consumer confidence in the sector’s long-term stability, innovation capacity, and economic significance.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has announced another reduction of N15 in the price of its high-quality Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
As a result of this reduction, Nigerians will now purchase the product at the following prices: N875 per litre in Lagos; N885 per litre in the South West; N895 per litre in the North West and North Central, while it will be sold for N905 per litre in the South East, South South, and North East.
These prices will apply through all its partners, including MRS, AP (Ardova), Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde.
The refinery called on other marketers to join its expanding network of partners, thereby demonstrating their support for President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy, which advocates for the prioritisation of locally-produced goods and services.
Since the commencement of operations, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently implemented cost-reduction strategies aimed at delivering tangible savings to Nigerians.
In February 2025, the company carried out two price reductions on petrol, resulting in a total decrease of N125 per litre.
This was followed by a further reduction of approximately N45 per litre in April.Additionally, the prices of other key products, such as diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), have been significantly lowered, improving affordability across transportation, industrial, and domestic energy sectors.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently reassured Nigerians of price stability despite fluctuations in global crude oil prices, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economy.
“By refining petroleum products domestically at the world’s largest single-train refinery, we are proud to make a substantial contribution to Nigeria’s energy security, foreign exchange savings, and overall economic resilience—aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on addressing the nation’s economic challenges and improving the well-being of Nigerians.
“We are immensely grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for making this possible through the commendable Naira-for-Crude Initiative, which has enabled us to consistently reduce the price of petroleum products for the benefit of all Nigerians,” it stated.Dangote Petroleum Refinery further assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand, as well as a surplus for export to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.Recall that only last Tuesdsy, the founder of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, was named in the inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy list.The list recognises the 100 most influential leaders shaping the future of philanthropy worldwide.The list, published by TIME Magazine, includes Aliko Dangote, whose Foundation spends an average of $35 million annually on programmes across Africa, alongside other global figures in charitable work, such as Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Melinda Gates, all of whom were recognised as Titans.
