PwC to Sponsor the 3rd Edition, National U-17 Cricket Tournament 2022

PwC Nigeria is proud to sponsor the National Under-17 Cricket Tournament organised by the Nigeria Cricket Federation for the third consecutive time. The firm was the official sponsor of the first two editions of the tournament and excitedly anticipates the third edition of the event happening this year.

The National Under-17 Cricket Tournament stemmed from the shared purpose by PwC Nigeria and the Nigeria Cricket Federation to solve complex societal problems especially in areas of youth and teenage development. The gender-inclusive tournament was subsequently created to empower Nigerian youths with increased opportunities for physical, social and economic development and advancement.

Thanks to the program, many Nigerian boys and girls have been able to improve their overall fitness, integrate into systems and structures that have helped them develop positive social skills and values, and have been given further opportunities to pursue Cricket professionally and represent the nation in both domestic and international tournaments.

The National Under-17 Cricket Tournament is part of the larger grassroots development program by the Nigeria Cricket Federation which PwC also supports. The Naija Kids Cricket Accelerated Growth Program seeks to introduce around 200,000 new kids into the sport annually from all 36 states of the Federation including the FCT. The main objective of the program is to invest in the future generation of Nigeria by providing them with opportunities that will keep them positively engaged and away from criminal influence or wasted potential.

Evidence of this agenda can be seen in the way the National Under-17 Cricket Tournament is structured. The tournament always takes place across the six geopolitical zones of the country so that kids from all corners will all have a shot at the opportunities provided.

This year is no different. Edo State will host the elimination series of the tournament in the South-South region, Oyo State will host the South-West, Ebonyi State will host the South-East, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory) will host the North-Central, Kaduna State will host the North-West and finally, Gombe State will host the North-East. The National Finals will subsequently take place in Abuja. 

The zonal qualifications will be used to determine regional champions amongst the states across the six regions and these regional champions will play for the win at the National Final in Abuja.

The tournament will take place from 28 January to 20 February 2022 with the zonal qualifications scheduled to take place from 28 to 30 January 2022 and the National finals scheduled to take place from 15 to 20 February 2022. 

In light of the upcoming championship, Uyi Akpata, Country Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria and President, Nigeria Cricket Federation remarked:

“We at PwC Nigeria are extremely proud of all the work we are accomplishing via our Corporate Responsibility sports initiatives. We are delivering sustained outcomes with our involvement in the National U-17 Cricket Championship program and other programs such as the Chess4Change initiative, and attending to a big part of our new global strategy, The New Equation.

These long-lasting youth development structures aid us in achieving our overall Societal Purpose of Reimagining Africa Together and building a system for all to thrive. From our people to our corporate strategy and everything in between, we are dedicated to making a difference in the society.

We hope for more of these avenues to impact change and look forward to a very eventful championship tournament this year.”