Contec Global Donates Cricket Equipment to Government College Ibadan -

The Nigerian Cricket Federation (NCF), Government College Ibadan (GCI) Cricket Council and the school management have commended Contec Global Group, New Delhi, India, for donating cricket equipment to support grassroots sports development in Nigeria.

The equipment was formally handed over to GCI at a ceremony held at the school on Wednesday, with stakeholders describing the gesture as a boost to the development and expansion of cricket, particularly among young people in the South-West.

Representing the NCF President, Mr. Uyi Akpata, at the event, a board member of the federation, Mr. Endurance Ofem, said the donation would support the federation’s efforts to increase participation in cricket and take the sport to the grassroots.

Akpata said the federation was targeting more than 250,000 new cricketers annually through partnerships with state cricket associations and schools, noting that GCI had become an important hub for the development of the sport.

He commended Contec Global representatives, Mr. Atul Saraf and Mr. Tunde Ayansanwo, as well as the facilitator of the donation, Mr. Wilfred Ighodaro, for making the initiative possible.

Ighodaro, a 1961 GCI alumnus, said the donation was facilitated after he contacted his friend and Chairman of Contec Global, Dr. Benoy Berry, following his discovery of cricket equipment being produced in India.

He said the initiative was not only about providing sporting equipment but also using cricket to instil discipline, patience, honesty, respect for rules and sportsmanship among students.
Ighodaro noted that GCI had produced more than 13 national cricket players and two national team captains.

Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the GCI Cricket Council, Mr. Ladipo Idowu, said the school had a rich cricket tradition spanning more than seven decades.

He listed former GCI students, including Chris Enahoro, Jide Bademosi, Kola Mosogu, Bayo Ayodebi, Deji Otegbeye and Seye Fadahunsi, among those who represented Nigeria at senior national level.

Idowu said more than 14 GCI old boys played for Nigeria’s senior cricket team between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, describing the school as a major contributor to the development of cricket in the country.

He disclosed that the NCF had granted GCI elite school status, making it the only school with such status in Oyo State, while assuring that the donated equipment would be judiciously used to nurture young talents.

Speaking on behalf of Contec Global, Mr. Atul Saraf described the donation as part of the company’s efforts to support sports development and strengthen relations between India and Nigeria.
Saraf said cricket was more than a sport in India, describing it as an activity that connects people across cultures and nationalities.

He said the company hoped the equipment would inspire young players, promote teamwork and leadership, and help produce future champions.

Receiving the equipment, GCI Principal, Mr. Olugbemi Oresegun, expressed appreciation to Contec Global, assuring the company that the equipment would be properly maintained and maximally utilised.

Oresegun said cricket would help students develop values such as patience, discipline, teamwork, integrity and strategic thinking, adding that the school would continue to promote both sporting and academic excellence among its students.