The victorious D’Tigress of Nigeria at the just-concluded AfroBasket in Cote d’Ivoire has been rewarded with N200 million by Zenith Bank Plc, the title sponsor of the Women National Basketball League in Nigeria.
At a reception for the girls in Abuja on Tuesday, the financial institution praised the team for clinching the prestigious continental title for the fifth straight year.
The chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, said the outfit would continue to support the women basketball in Nigeria as they look forward to the team excelling at the world stage.
“Your victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket is not just a win for Nigeria, it is a win for African sports,” she said.
“At Zenith Bank, we celebrate your victory – not just as supporters, but as longstanding partners in the development of women’s basketball in Nigeria.
“I hereby reaffirm Zenith Bank’s steadfast commitment to advancing women’s basketball and promoting sports development across Nigeria,” she stated at the event held at the lender’s Abuja head office in Maitama.
It was announced that each of the players would receive N10 million, to be paid into their Zenith Bank accounts while the technical crew and others will share the remaining.
Responding to the kind gesture, the captain of the team and the Most Valuable Player of the AfroBasket, Amy Okonkwo, on behalf of the team, appreciated the financial institution for doing a lot for women basketball in the country.
D’Tigress, after beating Mali 78-64 in the final played in Abidjan on Sunday, arrived at the country on Monday afternoon and were hosted by President, Bola Tinubu, where they were rewarded with National Honours of OON and cash rewards.
After sponsoring the national women league for 18 years with some of the players in the past title winning team going through the league as two of the current team, Murjanatu Musa, the MVP of the Air Warriors team that won the league title in 2022 and Ifunnaya Okoro with the current coach of the team, Rena Wakama, also participating in the league as a player with First Bank Women Basketball team.
Others present at the reception were some of Zenith Bank’s Executive Directors, including Adobi Nwapa, Akin Ogunranti, Henry Oroh and Louis Odom.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, President of the NBBF, Musa Kida and some of his board members were also at the colourful event.