St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, have emerged champions of the Atlantic Conference of the 26th MILO Basketball Championship, securing their places at the highly anticipated national finals in Lagos.
The regional championship, held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, featured some of the country's most talented young basketball players as schools battled for qualification to the national stage.
For 26 years, the MILO Basketball Championship has remained one of Nigeria's foremost grassroots sports development platforms, using basketball to nurture discipline, teamwork, resilience and leadership among students. The 2026 edition recorded over 13,000 school applications nationwide, underlining the growing popularity and impact of the competition.
In the girls' final, St. Jude Girls Secondary School delivered a dominant performance to defeat Urhobo College 46-25 and claim the Atlantic Conference title. The Bayelsa-based school showcased superior teamwork and tactical discipline throughout the competition to emerge deserving champions.
The boys' final produced a thrilling contest as King Amakree Academy of Rivers State edged Urhobo College 47-44 in a closely fought encounter. The victory secured Rivers State's place among the elite teams heading to the national championship.
Speaking at the event, the Category Manager for MILO, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, emphasized the importance of sports in shaping the future of young Nigerians.
"Every game played at this championship reminds us of the courage, determination and promise that exist in our young people. These students are not only competing for medals; they are learning to believe in themselves, work as a team and rise above challenges. At MILO, we are proud to continue supporting a platform that helps young people turn their passion into purpose," he said.
Individual brilliance also took centre stage during the competition. Anthonia Obokawe of St. Jude Girls Secondary School was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the girls' category after contributing 12 points in the championship-winning game.
In the boys' category, Edmund Hart of King Amakree Academy earned the MVP award following an outstanding display that saw him score 22 points to inspire his team to victory.
The Atlantic Conference is the third regional stage of the 26th MILO Basketball Championship. Earlier regional winners include Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, and Family Support Programme Secondary School, Katsina State, from the Savannah Conference, as well as Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State, and Father O'Connell Science College, Niger State, from the Central Conference.
With the Atlantic Conference concluded, attention now shifts to the Western Conference, the final qualifying stage before the national finals.
The 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals will take place on July 2, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, where regional champions from across Nigeria will compete for ultimate glory.