Nigeria U-12 b’ball team depart for Italy today
June 20, 2026 1:03 am
By Peter Akinbo
Team Nigeria of the Impact Kiddies Sports Project departs Lagos on Saturday (today) for Matera, Italy, where the squad will represent the country at the 34th edition of the MiniBasket in Piazza World Under-12 International Basketball Tournament, scheduled to run from June 21 to June 28.
The trip has been made possible by the sponsorship of Blueworld Cosmetics Limited, makers of the popular VIVON brand, whose Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ikenna Ekeagu, stepped in to back Team Nigeria as part of his continued commitment to youth empowerment and grassroots sports development in the country.
Officials of the Impact Kiddies Sports Project described the sponsorship as a significant boost that would ease the financial burden of international participation and ensure the selected children could proudly represent Nigeria and Africa at the global event.
They noted that Ekeagu’s support went beyond financial assistance, representing a strong statement of belief in the potential of Nigerian children to excel on the international stage.
Mr Ekeagu has built a reputation for investing in the growth and development of young people through various initiatives over the years, with stakeholders in the sports community describing him as a visionary whose generosity continues to create opportunities and transform lives. His sponsorship of Team Nigeria will give the young athletes the chance to compete on the world stage, interact with children from diverse cultures, and gain experiences stakeholders say will extend far beyond basketball.
The tournament, organised by Pielle Matera Basket, has grown into one of the world’s foremost grassroots sporting events for children, now attracting participants from more than 63 countries and promoting cultural exchange, inclusion and international unity through sport.
Ahead of the team’s departure, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, backed the squad to return with the trophy, describing the tournament as aligned with the commission’s broader goal of nurturing future champions.
Head of Delegation and founder of the Impact Kiddies Basketball Project, Ambassador Joel Adams, said the team’s preparations had been thorough, with the selection process drawing from numerous basketball academies across Lagos to assemble the strongest possible squad within the under-12 age bracket.
11-year-old team captain Oluwatimifun Adeoye expressed confidence that the team would deliver on its mission in Italy.
“We went through many screening exercises and the best players were selected. I assure you that Nigeria will bring the trophy back home,” he said.
Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories
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