Prof. Uyi Akpata Re-Elected as Nigeria Cricket Federation President

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has re-elected Professor Uyiosa Akpata as its President for another four-year term in an election that stakeholders described as transparent, credible, and historic.

The polls, conducted under the supervision of an independent electoral committee, also produced new zonal representatives and a Vice President, ushering in what many believe will be a new era of consolidation and expansion for Nigerian cricket.

The zonal elections reflected a blend of consensus and competition. In the South East, Chika Okoro was elected unopposed after securing five votes. The South West also produced an uncontested result as Mr. Tayo Atoloye was returned with six votes, while in the North West, Usman Ladan emerged unopposed with seven votes.

The South South witnessed a contest in which Olufemi John defeated Darego Patribo by five votes to one. In the North Central, Oludare Ayimola edged out Emeka Onyeama by five votes to two. In the North East, after Ambassador Usman Danjuma Ibrahim of Borno and Musa Yale Usman of Bauchi withdrew, the race narrowed to Musa Sule Jamai and Zainab Isiaku Adamu, with Adamu emerging victorious by five votes to one.

The Vice Presidency also produced a landslide, with Mr. Wale Obalola securing all forty-seven votes. Professor Akpata was re-elected unopposed as President with the same unanimous support.

Reacting to his re-election, Professor Akpata praised the delegates for their confidence and credited the board for its collective achievements over the past four years. “It is not just about me, but about the entire board and the journey we have begun,” he said.

“Delegates recognized the good work we have collectively achieved, which is why many members have been re-elected to continue the process. We have laid the foundation, but the real work starts now.”

The NCF President unveiled a ten-point agenda that will guide the Federation’s next phase. He emphasized the importance of setting up cricket associations in all zones, expanding grassroots and high-performance programmes, developing facilities through partnerships with state governments, and introducing a Nigerian Super League to strengthen domestic competition.

“We are going to insist that all zones set up associations, and through those associations we will have formal structures where the NCF can work with the states to deliver on our strategic goals around development, high performance, facilities, and partnerships,” Akpata explained.

He also addressed the Federation’s financial outlook, noting that Nigerian cricket must scale beyond its reliance on ICC grants. “Our ICC income is under one million dollars, while countries like Uganda receive three to four million dollars,” he said. “If we want to achieve our targets, we must strengthen our commercial base.

Thankfully, sponsors are already showing interest in our programmes. By next year, our non-ICC revenue will double. This is how we will build a truly sustainable future for Nigerian cricket.”

On governance, the re-elected President clarified issues surrounding the NCF constitution, stressing that the Federation had adhered to global best practices.

“This election is a landmark moment — the first time the NCF has organized its own elections through an independent commission. That is a major milestone in corporate governance,” he stated.

He explained that the NCF constitution, approved at the 2021 Annual General Meeting, had been validated by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), and the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Other newly elected board members also expressed their delight at the outcome. Oludare Ayimola, who defeated Emeka Onyeama to return as North Central Representative, said his election was an opportunity to continue contributing to the growth of the sport. “I give glory to God and thank the cricket family. The leadership of this board has been excellent, and I am happy to return to be part of the success story of Nigeria cricket. My goal is to help put Nigeria firmly on the global cricket map,” he declared.

With the elections concluded, stakeholders believe Nigerian cricket is now better positioned to consolidate on recent progress and pursue greater ambitions internationally.

The smooth conduct of the polls, coupled with the clarity of Akpata’s roadmap, has been hailed as a turning point. As one delegate remarked on the sidelines of the congress, “For the first time in many years, Nigerian cricket has not only stability but also a clear sense of direction.”