ICC 7 days working visit to Nigeria, NCF annual general meeting and maiden edition of the NCF Dinner/Award night:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa in line with directives to develop and spread the game across Africa embarked on a 7 days working visit to Nigeria. Some of the basic reasons for the visit were in relations to the:

Governance and improved structures
Improved Administration
Funding and Funding policies
Cricket Wildfire (Growing numbers of junior and intermediate players in the country by 200%)
Improved coaches and umpire’s Education
Facility development across the country amongst others.

The ICC Africa working Visit began on the 5^th of December with the President of the federation as guest on a live program on NTA Sports24 to discuss issues pertaining to ICC visit, State of the Federation, Plans for Cricket by his administration and lots more

The ICC-Africa regional development Manager Mrs Patricia Cambrani and the Finance/Data officer for ICC Africa Mr. Kuben Pillay arrived Nigeria on Tuesday 5th December 2017 in Abuja Nigeria.

The morning session on the 6^th of December, the delegates embarked on a tour to the Federation’s Secretariat and The Ovals under construction in the Package B of the National Stadium Abuja.

The afternoon sessions resumed with a meeting between President and the vice president of the Federation, some board members and some key principal staff of the Federation.

A courtesy visit to the honorable Minister of Youth and sports development, Barr Solomon Dalung on the 7^th of December was very successful with promised cooperation by the Government of Nigeria to support in the development, promotion and sustenance of Cricket in Nigeria. Emphasis was laid on the quick completion of the ovals in Abuja and the construction of other facilities other zones in the country.

The delegates also had an opportunity to interface with Members of the press with a press conference organized by the Federation to intimate the general public about the purpose of the ICC working visit to Nigeria, gains from this visit, expectations from Nigeria and finally partnership with Nigeria to attain international standards with other established member countries of the ICC.

On the 8^th of December, the delegates travelled to Lagos to inspect the facilities and witness the finals of the NCF National Men’s championship 2017 which took place on the 9^th of December. The ICC delegates were also part of the award presentations to deserving individuals.

The 10^th of December was the NCF AGM, followed by a development seminar and finally the

Maiden edition of the NCF Dinner/awards night.

Papers delivered include:

CRICKET ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA: OVERVIEW AND EXPECTATIONS IN THE 21^ST CENTURY

(George Wiltshire)

NCF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (Mr. Uyiosa Akpata)
NIGERIA CRICKET FEDERATION TODAY AND EXPECTATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

(Patricia Kambarami & Kuben Pillay. ICC Delegates)

The Dinner/Award Night held at the Venue’s events center was the climax of the day with special award categories listed in recognition of some old veterans alive and deceased and also our current crop of talents in the country.

AWARD CATEGORIES INCLUDES