馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Nigeria Cricket Federation wins ICC Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year Award
via Punch Nigeria8 min read
The Nigeria Cricket Federation has been awarded the ICC/Rexona Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year Award for its Criiio Cricket Festival in Zamfara State. This global recognition celebrates innovation and impact in grassroots cricket development. The festival, themed "Breaking Barriers," introduced cricket to a region where access to sport and education for girls has been traditionally limited. It aimed to promote inclusion, empowerment, and social change by combining sport, culture, and community engagement, laying the foundation for the growth of women's cricket in Northwest Nigeria. Other nominees included the Bahrain Cricket Federation, Qatar Cricket Association, Emirates Cricket Board, Persatuan Cricket Indonesia, and the Confedera莽茫o Brasileira de Cricket. Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, stated that the award is a victory for everyone committed to the sport's development and dedicated it to the young girls impacted by cricket. International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah also praised the award recipients, highlighting how cricket can inspire participation, create opportunities, strengthen communities, and deliver performances that capture global attention.
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