By Joel Ajayi
All is now set for the 7th edition of the PwC-sponsored Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) National Under-17 Cricket Championship for boys and girls, scheduled to take place from March 10 to 15, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Oval in Abuja.
Over the years, the championship has grown to become one of the biggest age-grade cricket tournaments in Nigeria and West Africa, serving as a vital platform for identifying and grooming the next generation of players who will don Nigeria’s prestigious green and yellow national colours.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Alhaji Sani Mohammed, who represented the federation’s president, Uyi Akpata, said all necessary arrangements had been concluded to ensure a successful tournament.
According to him, the competition follows the successful completion of zonal qualifiers held across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with the winners now set to compete in the national finals beginning Wednesday.
“The PwC Under-17 Championship will start tomorrow. We have already concluded the zonal competitions across the six geopolitical zones, and the winners have emerged. They are now ready to compete in the national finals,” he said.
Mohammed noted that the partnership between PwC and the NCF has remained one of the key drivers of grassroots cricket development in Nigeria, helping to identify and nurture young talents while strengthening the country’s national teams.
He added that the federation continues to promote cricket development through its network of development officers who serve as coaches across the zones, engaging schools, introducing young students to the sport, and monitoring their progress.
“Our development officers work closely with schools in their various zones. Their mission is to introduce cricket to students, train them, and monitor their development as part of our grassroots strategy,” he explained.
Also speaking at the briefing, Habeeb Jayeola, representing global professional services firm PwC, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to grassroots sports development in Nigeria, highlighting its long-standing partnership with the Nigeria Cricket Federation.
Jayeola noted that the partnership aligns with PwC’s belief that sports play a vital role in shaping discipline, character, and leadership qualities among young people.
“We have always been excited to partner with the Nigeria Cricket Federation. This is about the seventh year of this collaboration, and as a firm we remain very enthusiastic about sustaining this partnership,” he said.
He explained that beyond athletic excellence, sports help young people develop essential life skills such as teamwork, dedication, patience, discipline, and maturity—qualities that are equally valuable in the business world.
“As a firm, we are passionate about initiatives that help build our youth and develop character traits such as teamwork, dedication, maturity, and patience. These are the same values we see in successful organisations and businesses,” he added.
Jayeola also emphasised the importance of youth development in nation building, noting that a strong and empowered youth population is a key pillar of any thriving society.
He commended the NCF championship for consistently producing talented players who have gone on to represent Nigeria at the highest levels of international cricket.
“Every year we are impressed by the quality of talent that emerges from this competition. Over time, more than 60 to 70 percent of players in both the men’s and women’s national teams have come through this grassroots programme,” he said.
He expressed pride in the achievements recorded through the partnership and reiterated PwC’s readiness to continue supporting the initiative.
“We are very proud of our partnership with the Nigeria Cricket Federation, and we are equally excited about this year’s edition. PwC remains committed to this event and will continue to ensure our support is sustained,” he stated.
