Nigeria Cricket Federation recognised with ICC x Rexona Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year global award
Nigeria Cricket Federation recognised for grassroots development
The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has been awarded the ICC x Rexona Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year Award, a global honour acknowledging innovation and impact in grassroots cricket development. This recognition highlights the Federation’s efforts in using cricket as a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and social change.
The award specifically celebrates the NCF’s Criiio Cricket Festival held in Zamfara State. This initiative was implemented under the theme “Breaking Barriers” and aimed to introduce cricket to a region where access to sport and education, particularly for girls, has historically faced limitations. The festival combined sport, local culture, and strong community engagement to address these long-standing barriers, encourage greater participation, and establish a foundation for sustainable women’s cricket development across Northwest Nigeria.
The NCF’s commitment to expanding cricket’s reach to all communities, regardless of geographical location or circumstances, was underscored by this award. The Federation focuses on creating opportunities for young people, especially girls, to learn, grow, and thrive through sports. This aligns with Nigeria’s growing reputation as a leading nation in cricket development, pioneering programmes that leverage the game to promote education, gender inclusion, and community advancement.
Global recognition for impactful initiatives
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the global winners of its Development Awards 2025 during its Annual Conference, selecting them from regional awardees previously announced in June. These awards acknowledge programmes, initiatives, and performances by ICC Associate Members across seven categories. The Emirates Cricket Board was a significant winner at the awards, securing three global honours for its contributions to growing the sport.
ICC Chairman, Mr. Jay Shah, commended all the award recipients, noting that the awards were established to celebrate the exceptional work delivered by Associate Members globally. He stated that this year’s winners serve as prime examples of how cricket can inspire participation, create opportunities, strengthen communities, and deliver performances that attract global attention.
The Emirates Cricket Board received the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for its Girls U15 Academy League. This league was recognised as the first of its kind in the region, creating opportunities for young girls to engage in competitive cricket. The Emirates Cricket Board also shared the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award with Türkiye Cricket for the second consecutive year.
In the UAE, the shared award acknowledged the Interschool criiio Gulf Cup and the Emirates Cricket Board’s Get into Cricket – Girls Only programme. These initiatives were launched following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 and have expanded girls’ cricket across schools and communities in various emirates. Türkiye Cricket was honoured for organising the largest ICC Women’s Cricket Week celebration in Europe in 2025, which saw over 3,000 girls from 20 provinces participate in softball festivals, ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup watch parties, and coaching webinars for female coaches.
Nigeria’s commitment to cricket development
The President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Mr. Uyi Akpata, expressed his pride in the award, describing it as a victory for all stakeholders who believe in the transformative power of cricket. He highlighted that the Criiio Festival in Zamfara demonstrated the potential when communities, partners, and passionate volunteers collaborate with a shared vision. Mr. Akpata dedicated the recognition to every young girl whose life has been positively impacted by cricket, reaffirming the Federation’s commitment to overcoming more barriers and creating further opportunities across Nigeria.
The NCF extended its gratitude to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Rexona, community leaders, schools, volunteers, coaches, development officers, state associations, and all participants whose dedication contributed to the initiative’s success. This global recognition serves as additional motivation for Nigeria to continue its ambitious cricket development agenda, aiming to broaden access to the game and inspire the next generation of cricketers throughout the country.
The Emirates Cricket Board completed its trio of awards by winning the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year honour. The UAE women’s team drew a 2-2 ODI series against Zimbabwe in their first 50-over series after gaining ODI status, and subsequently won the following T20I series 2-0, marking their first series victory over a higher-ranked Full Member nation away from home.
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Source: thisdaylive.com
