The fifth edition of the South-East Secondary School Cricket Championship, organized in collaboration with the Abia State Government, has officially kicked off in Umuahia, the state capital.
Declaring the three-day tournament open at Ibeku High School, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Nwobilor Ananaba, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reviving cricket and promoting youth participation in sports across the state.
Represented by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Chima Ukwa, the commissioner emphasized that the Abia State Government would continue to develop programmes and policies aimed at enhancing sporting activities at all levels.
In his remarks, the South-East Representative of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Mr. Chika Okoro, commended the Abia Government for its genuine interest in cricket development.
He called for the establishment of a standard cricket pitch in the state, noting that the sport “does not require huge financial investments” but yields significant benefits for youth engagement.
Veteran cricketer and former national team player, Chris Obasi, praised the organisers for reviving cricket in his home state. He encouraged the young participants to stay committed, describing cricket as a viable career path with global opportunities.
Some young players, including Goodluck Agbo from Enugu, Chukwujekwu Nwachukwu from Anambra, and 11-year-old Moses Ajagbo from Ebonyi, expressed excitement about participating in the championship. They appealed to governments at all levels to sustain their support for cricket development to help them achieve greater heights in their sporting careers.
The championship aims to nurture grassroots cricket talent and strengthen youth sports participation across the South-East region.
