The Nigeria Cricket Federation has been named the winner of the ICC/Rexona Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year Award, a global recognition celebrating innovation and impact in grassroots cricket development, The PUNCH reports.

The NCF received the award for its transformative Criiio Cricket Festival held in Zamfara State, an initiative that showcased cricket as a vehicle for inclusion, empowerment and social change.

Other nominees for the award were the Bahrain Cricket Federation, Qatar Cricket Association, Emirates Cricket Board, Persatuan Cricket Indonesia and the Confederação Brasileira de Cricket.

Held under the theme “Breaking Barriers,” the festival introduced cricket to a region where access to sport and education for girls has traditionally been limited. By combining sport, culture and community engagement, the initiative challenged long-standing barriers, encouraged greater participation and laid the foundation for the sustainable growth of women’s cricket across Northwest Nigeria.

President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, described