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Historic AfroBasket Title: Zenith Bank Gifts D’Tigress N200m As CEO Umeoji Pledges Continued Support

in recognition of their heroic feat as champions of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.

Published

9 months ago

August 6, 2025

Leading financial institution, Zenith Bank, has gifted Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, the sum of N200 million in recognition of their heroic feat as champions of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.

The historic victory marks a record-breaking fifth consecutive and seventh overall AfroBasket title for D’Tigress.

Zenith Bank—sponsor of the Women’s National Basketball League—hosted the triumphant team at its Maitama, Abuja head office on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to celebrate the achievement.

The financial institution, recently named Nigeria’s Best Bank at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, has been a proud sponsor of the nation’s women’s basketball league for 18 years.

During the reception, Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director, Dame Adaora Umeoji, reaffirmed the bank’s continued commitment to supporting the Women’s National Basketball League.

“Your victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket is not just a win for Nigeria—it is a win for African sports,” said Dame Adaora. “At Zenith Bank, we celebrate your victory not just as supporters, but as longstanding partners in the development of women’s basketball in Nigeria.”

Highlighting Zenith Bank’s enduring legacy as Nigeria’s number one bank by Tier-1 capital for the sixteenth consecutive year, and as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria since 2021, she added:

“I hereby reaffirm Zenith Bank’s steadfast commitment to advancing women’s basketball and promoting sports development across Nigeria.”

Findings revealed that the N200 million gift will see each player receive N10 million, while the technical crew and support staff will share the remainder.

Responding on behalf of the team, Amy Okonkwo—the team captain and Most Valuable Player of the 2025 AfroBasket—expressed gratitude to the financial institution for its unwavering support for women’s basketball in Nigeria.

L-R: Executive Director, Mr. Henry Oroh; Executive Director; Mr. Louis Odom; D’Tigress Captain, Amy Okonkwo; President, NBBF, Engr. Musa Kida; Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Zenith Bank Plc., Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON; Head Coach, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama; Executive Director, Mrs. Adobi Nwapa and Executive Director, Mr. Akin Ogunranti during the reception hosted by Zenith Bank to celebrate D’Tigress’ 2025 Afrobasket Women’s Championship triumph in Abuja, yesterday.

Present at the event were Zenith Bank’s Executive Directors, Adobi Nwapa, Akin Ogunranti, Henry Oroh, and Louis Odom, who all expressed their appreciation to D’Tigress for making the nation proud.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, and several board members.

The reception followed D’Tigress’ dominant run in the tournament, culminating in a 78-64 victory over Mali in the final played in Abidjan on Sunday, securing their record-breaking fifth consecutive and seventh overall AfroBasket title.