Moniepoint Microfinance Bank has unveiled the first edition of its Monieball five-a-side University Football Tournament, scheduled to take place across Nigeria from October 8 to 31, 2025.
The bank’s Head of Brand, Anastasia Igbokidi, disclosed this during the unveiling ceremony held in Lagos on Friday. She said the competition, which will feature teams from eight universities, is designed to promote grassroots football and support students’ educational aspirations.
According to her, participating players stand the chance of winning scholarships in addition to showcasing their talents on a national platform.
“This initiative reflects Moniepoint’s commitment to youth empowerment through education and sports. We want to connect with young people, grow brand awareness, and demonstrate that we have much to offer beyond financial services,” Igbokidi said.
She explained that the campaign would also give the bank an opportunity to better understand students’ expectations from a financial institution. “Progress is intentional. We want students to see and believe our commitment through initiatives like this,” she added.
Acting President of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), Alayode Ajibua, described the initiative as a landmark partnership between sports and creativity.
“Today is an epoch-making day where creativity meets sports management. I’m excited to witness it,” Ajibua said, expressing optimism that the collaboration between NUGA and Moniepoint would endure.
He added that the competition would provide a platform for students to showcase their abilities, build teamwork, and foster healthy rivalry among institutions.
The participating universities are grouped as follows:
Group A: University of Ilorin (host), University of Calabar, and University of Ibadan.
Group B: Abia State University, Adekunle Ajasin University, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).
The matches will follow a knockout format, with the tournament expected to spotlight new football talents while reinforcing the role of sports in education.
