AS part of activities marking the ICC Women’s Week and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India 2025, the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) organised a landmark Mass Participation Programme at the Centre for Women’s Cricket, Iyoba College, Edo State, to drive inclusion and development in women’s cricket.
The event, which aimed to promote women’s cricket and empower the girl child through sport, attracted more than 300 pupils from schools across the state. Out of these, 120 selected students took part in practical cricket sessions led by members of the Nigeria Women’s National Team.
The players served as facilitators, conducting demonstrations, mentorship sessions, and interactive discussions. They shared personal stories of their cricket journeys, challenges, and achievements, inspiring the students to pursue excellence and resilience both on and off the field.
The programme was attended by officials from the Edo State Sports Commission, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Patricia Efe-Amenze, who represented the Commission Chairman, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, and the Executive Director for Sports Development and Operations, Mrs. Sabina Chikere.
In her remarks, Mrs. Efe-Amenze commended the NCF and the PET Foundation for their continued investment in grassroots and women’s cricket development.
“We appreciate the Nigeria Cricket Federation and the Edo State Cricket Association for organising this event and choosing Edo State as the host,” she said.
“You can see the large turnout of school children and their excitement. Kudos to the President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Dr. Uyi Akpata, for the great work he is doing for our country. We are proud of him. This shows that the roots of Nigerian cricket are in Edo State, and programmes like this will surely speed up grassroots development.”
The initiative, supported by the PET Foundation chaired by NCF President Dr. Uyi Akpata also saw the donation of high-quality training kits to Edo State coaches in recognition of their commitment to developing cricket.
