Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, is gearing up to host the inaugural Honour Independent National Baseball League from April 6th to 12th, 2025. The event, set to take place at the newly refurbished Kwara State Baseball and Softball Park in Adewole, will see no fewer than 10 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), compete for the top prize.
The announcement came during a press conference held on Saturday at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Sports Centre, SWAN Secretariat, where Mr. Yinka Adewusi, Vice Chairman of the Kwara State Baseball and Softball Association, confirmed Kwara’s role as the host state. Teams from Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Niger, Oyo, Bayelsa, and the FCT are expected to participate in the week-long tournament.
Mr. Adewusi revealed that the competition will kick off with a round-robin league format in its first phase. The top five teams will then advance to a second phase, slated for August 2025. He expressed gratitude to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his efforts in upgrading the Kwara State Baseball Park, which he described as “the best in Africa” and now in prime condition for the upcoming event.
Mallam Sani Duro, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, echoed these sentiments, assuring attendees that the facility is ready to host a world-class tournament. He also praised Mallam Bola Magaji, Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, for his steadfast commitment to the project.
The stakes are high, with the champions set to claim a ₦300,000 star prize, alongside medals and trophies. The second and third-placed teams will take home ₦200,000 and ₦100,000, respectively.
The press conference was attended by other key figures, including Comrade Abdullateef Oloyin, Secretary of the Association, and Opeyemi Awojare.