Nigeria: ICC membership application submitted as ties strengthened with UCB of South Africa

Nigeria last week submitted its application for Associate Membership of the ICC. Its application which was supported by a document entitled ' A Century Not Out ' was confirmed received in mid-December and thus is eligible to be presented at the ICC AGM in June 2002.

Before consideration in June 2002, a final inspection of facilities is to be undertaken by the ICC Global Development Manager, Andrew Eade in April 2002. An initial inspection was done by the regional Development Manager, Hoosain Ayob in November.

Nigeria's application was supported by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and the United Cricket Board of South Africa(UCBSA) both full members of the ICC.

A delegation of the Nigeria Cricket Association(NCA) last month visited the CEO of the UCBSA, Gerald Majola, to garner support in Nigeria's bid to attain Associate Membership of the ICC.

The delegation was led by Dr John Abebe (Chairman) and included Kwesi Sagoe (1st Vice-Chairman), Segun Akinlotan (Secretary) and Olisa Egwuatu.

The meeting with Gerald Majola was also attended by the Regional Development Manager for Africa, Hoosain Ayob. The document in support of Nigeria's Associate Membership application entitled ' A Century Not Out' was presented at the occasion.

Dr Abebe sought the support of UCBSA not only from the perspective of ICC membership but on a wider view of assisting Nigeria's cricket development programme generally. He commended the effort of the RDM in Nigeria thus far and pledged to accelerate the pace of development in Nigeria.

Responding Gerald Majola assured of the UCBSA's support for both the application as well as overall cricket development. He submitted that the UCBSA was prepared to nominate Nigeria but had been beaten to it by Zimbabwe; so UCBSA would support the nomination formally to the ICC.

The two bodies also agreed to look at working out an exchange programme aimed at developing the technical skills of umpires, coaches and groundsmen in addition to youth development.

The Nigerian team was presented with souvenirs to mark the historic visit which represents the first formal cricket contact between the two countries.