Nigeria’s commitment to cricket development has been recognized on the global stage! The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) secured the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Africa Cricket Development Initiative of the Year award for 2023. This prestigious honor acknowledges the NCF’s successful five-year PwC National U-17 Championship, which provides competitive cricket opportunities for both boys and girls across the country.
The ICC Development Initiative of the Year award celebrates outstanding development programs implemented within a year. Nigeria’s U-17 Championship stood out for its dedication to fostering youth participation in cricket. NCF President Uyi Akpata expressed his delight at the award, highlighting the significance of collaboration with partners like PwC. He emphasized how this recognition motivates the NCF team to push further in their development efforts.
The award also validates the potential PwC saw in Nigerian cricket. Country Senior Partner at PwC Nigeria, Sam Abu, expressed pride in the joint initiative’s global recognition. He believes cricket has the power to empower and equip young Nigerians for success on the global stage.
This accolade marks Nigeria’s fourth recent honor in cricket development. The NCF previously secured regional awards for the “Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year” due to their work at IDP camps in Edo State and the “100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year” for their girl-child enrollment program in Zamfara State.
