NCF President Akpata Aims to Use Cricket as Catalyst for Nigeria's Economic and Social Development
Cricket is rapidly emerging as one of Nigeria's fastest-growing sports, with significant strides made over the past four years. Introduced alongside football during the British colonial era, the sport has gained momentum, leading pundits to predict that Nigeria could become a regular World Cup contender if current progress continues. While officials remain modest, they believe that with adequate support from both government and corporate sectors, Nigeria could rise to become one of the top three cricket-playing nations in Africa, currently dominated by South Africa.
Growing Optimism and International Engagement
Recently, top African cricket nations including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Ghana participated in a 12-day women's invitational tournament in Lagos. Organized by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), this event aims to elevate the women's national team to compete with Africa's giants. The tournament serves as a benchmark for assessing team standards and providing essential competitive experience for player development.
Strategic Vision and Grassroots Expansion
At a meeting with senior sports writers, NCF President Uyi Akpata, re-elected for a second term last year, emphasized the federation's goal to position cricket as Nigeria's second most popular sport after football. Following his re-election, the NCF convened a two-day summit with 30 stakeholders to refresh strategies and map out programs. Akpata highlighted a key outcome: "We came out with a strategy aimed at making cricket a catalyst for economic and social development for Nigeria." This philosophy focuses on impacting children through opportunities and partnering with sponsors to enhance the sport's commercial outlook.
Akpata noted that states previously uninterested in cricket, such as Kano and Niger, are now embracing the game, with initiatives like the PwC U-17 Championship attracting new participants. The NCF's first pillar is continued growth, targeting 250,000 new players annually through grassroots outreach. To achieve this, the federation has recruited 45 development officers across states, partnering with schools to recruit talent early and prevent youth distraction into crime.
Facilities Development and High-Performance Goals
Facilities development is a critical focus, with investments in venues like the twin ovals in Abuja, TBS and UNILAG in Lagos, and sites in Ibadan and Edo. A new indoor facility at TBS Cricket Oval, the first of its kind in West Africa, allows for year-round play. Akpata aims to replicate this in Abuja and other geopolitical zones. Additionally, a strategic high-performance center is being built in Benin through private partnerships.
These efforts have yielded results, with Nigeria ranked 26th in women's cricket and 36th in men's globally. The NCF avoids recruiting diaspora players, instead focusing on home-grown talents developed through programs like the revitalized CCC League, now considered West Africa's best. Plans for a Nigerian Super League in May, featuring six teams with foreign-based players, aim to enhance competitiveness.
Coaching and Governance Enhancements
The NCF is finalizing the appointment of a new high-performance coach, with 45 applicants narrowed to 10 candidates. Criteria include experience coaching national or first-class teams and playing at the highest level. Akpata stressed the importance of governance built on transparency and trust to foster a thriving cricket ecosystem. He concluded, "That structure is important because it builds great and thriving cricket ecosystem that blends competitive excellence with commercial success, thus making the sport a catalyst for economic and social development for Nigeria."
