NCF President re-elected into ACA Board, as Nigeria Hailed at ICC Annual Conference

By Ikemefuna Asika

Nigeria has once again made headlines at the ongoing International Cricket Council, ICC Annual Conference 2025 in Singapore, with a strong representation, impactful contributions, and commendable recognition at various forums, including the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Annual General Meeting.

One of the high points of the Africa Regional Meeting was the re-election of Dr. Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) and six others as Directors to serve on the board.

It will be recalled that Dr. Akpata’s earlier tenure as an Interim Director officially came to an end during the present AGM and his return to the board through a fresh mandate reflects the continued confidence in his leadership and vision for African cricket development.

The meeting resolved to strengthen collaboration among member countries, encouraging peer reviews and shared learning to accelerate cricket development across the continent.

The new board, including Dr. Akpata, is expected to play a crucial role in driving unity and growth, drawing inspiration from successful regional models.

Earlier at the Associate Members Meeting, ICC Chair, Jay Shah opened the session with commendations to Nigeria. He applauded the country’s remarkable performance at the ICC U19 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Malaysia, describing Nigeria as one of the Associate nations that stood tall and gained global recognition in the competition.

Further eulogy came from Mr. Mubashshir Usmani, Chair of the Associate Members, who highlighted the innovative grassroots work being done by the NCF. He specifically acknowledged the Criiio Cricket Program and the 9ja Kids Cricket Initiative, citing his personal experience during the unveiling of plastic cricket equipment in Lagos.

He described Nigeria’s effort as a “massive investment in the future of the sport.”

In another development during the Africa regional engagements, West African cricket-playing countries, including Cameroon, agreed to host the first West Africa U17 Men’s Cricket Event in Ghana, scheduled for last quarter of 2025.

The initiative is designed to prepare countries for the ICC U19 Men’s Division 2 Qualifiers and Finals in 2026 and 2027.

To spearhead this development, Emeka Igwilo, the General Manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, was appointed as the Coordinator. He will lead coordination efforts and engage member nations on planning, with final dates to be harmonised around school calendars.

NCF has indicated that players selected from the 2025 PwC National Youth Cricket Events will form the Nigerian squad for the U17 event in Ghana.

It is expected that further resolutions and strategic decisions all geared towards enhancing the global and continental landscape of cricket.

Nigeria’s active presence and recognition at the global level reaffirm its rising status in world cricket, driven by visionary leadership and consistent investment in grassroots development.