ILORIN, March 31 (AGCNewsNet) – The Honour Independent National Baseball League is set to kick off in Ilorin, with ten teams from nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) battling for supremacy at the Kwara State Baseball Park, Adewole.

The tournament, organized by the Kwara State Baseball and Softball Association, will take place in two stages. The first stage, scheduled for April 6 to 12, 2025, will follow a Round Robin League Format, reducing the teams to five for the final stage in August.

Competing for the title are teams from Kwara (host), Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Niger, Abuja, Oyo, and Bayelsa. Bayelsa’s team has already arrived in Ilorin ahead of the tournament.

Ilorin has a rich baseball history, producing top players and hosting major competitions. The Kwara Baseball Park, praised as the best in Africa, has been instrumental in grassroots baseball development.

Vice Chairman of the Association, Yinka Adewusi, commended Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for renovating the facility, ensuring its long-term sustainability. He also expressed confidence in the newly elected national executives—many of whom are former players—to further the sport’s growth and official federation in Nigeria.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mallam Sanni Duro, confirmed that the Baseball Park is in top condition. He also lauded Mallam Bola Magaji, Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, for his support.

The tournament winners will take home ₦300,000, while the second and third-placed teams will receive ₦200,000 and ₦100,000, respectively. Medals and trophies will also be awarded.

With high stakes and strong competition, baseball fans across Nigeria eagerly anticipate the action-packed tournament in Ilorin.

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