FirstBank Champions Youth Development with Sponsorship of Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship 2026

FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution, has announced its sponsorship of the inaugural Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth football tournament created to honour the late Samuel Okwaraji, one of Nigeria’s most revered football legends known for his patriotism, discipline, and dedication to national service.

The championship will bring together secondary schools from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a two-stage competition. The first stage will feature zonal eliminations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, culminating in a national final in Abuja with the top 12 qualifying teams. The tournament will also feature cultural exhibitions, memorial lectures, and talent scouting opportunities by national team coaches, blending sporting excellence with social impact.

Speaking on the sponsorship, Olusegun Alebiosu, Managing Director and CEO of FirstBank, said:

> “Football is the strongest unifier of Nigerians. It brings communities together, inspires discipline, and nurtures talents across the country. FirstBank is making a deliberate incursion into grassroots football development with this sponsorship, creating an enabling environment for the next generation of Samuel Okwarajis to discover, refine, and maximise their potential, thereby shaping the future of Nigerian football.”

Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, commended FirstBank’s commitment:

> “FirstBank’s legacy predates modern Nigerian football. The bank has once again shown that true corporate leadership lies in nation-building. We thank FirstBank for their participation in this championship and hope that other corporates will take a leaf and provide an enabling environment for young ones to thrive in education through sports.”

Through its First@Sports initiative, FirstBank has continually promoted the growth of football and sports across Nigeria. The Bank owns the Elephant Boys Football Team, currently competing in the Nigerian National League, and the FirstBank Basketball Club, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls.”

Over the years, FirstBank has supported youth-focused sporting events including the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship (35 years), Lagos Amateur Golf Open Championship (65 years), and the Georgian Polo Cup (105 years).

The Bank’s sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Championship reinforces its dedication to national unity, community empowerment, and youth development, while promoting education through school sports.