The Country Chair Shell companies in Nigeria and Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria limited, Mutiu Sunmonu presenting the trophy to Kwara Football Academy Secondary School winners of the 14th NNPC/Shell Cup in Lagos.
Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC/Shell joint venture has set aside N8 million ($50,000) as prize money for the winners of 2014 edition of Nigeria’s all secondary schools NNPC/Shell Cup football competition.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria’s General Manager, Communication, Philip Mshelbila, speaking in a media chat at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, said the overall champion will be rewarded with N3.8 million ($23,698), the runner up gets N2 million ($12,434) while the third place team will take home N1 million ($6, 217)
He also added that the 10 best players of the championship will be awarded the JV’s secondary school scholarships. “These scholarships will commence from where the students are in their secondary school journey. On completion of their secondary education, they will be eligible to compete for the NNPC/Shell JV university scholarships,” he said.
Mshelbila noted that the NNPC/Shell Cup has become one of the leading youth grassroots football championships and a regular annual fixture in Nigeria’s educational and sport calendar, stressing that 16 years after its inauguration, the tournament has transformed into a successful reference point for sports development in Nigeria.
He added: “We believe that by its inclusive nature, the NNPC/Shell Cup, being a national competition, has helped to reduce incidence of students dropping out of secondary schools to pursue professional football careers. The successes of a number of our alumni have proved that football and education can indeed go hand in hand,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the state finals are scheduled for February 13 and 14, while the zonal preliminaries are billed to hold in the following nine centres of Yenagoa, Osogho, Benin, Lokoja, Jaalingo, Ilorin, Katsina, Enugu and Akure between February 25 and March 1. The quarterfinals matches are fixed for Port Harcourt, Shagamu, Minna and Kaduna from March 12 to 15, while the semi-finals, third place and final is slated between May 2 and 4 in Lagos.
