About the club
Our story
From an idea after the 2002 University Games to a registered club with two decades of league cricket and a record of producing international players.
How IMCC began
Just after the Nigeria University Games (NUGA) of 2002, hosted by the University of Ibadan, the dream started with the idea of putting Ibadan on the “cricket map of the nation”. Apart from the quest for continual improvement, there was also the drive to showcase to the entire country that cricket in Ibadan was beginning to make its mark in its own way.
Many people bought into the idea of a team representing Ibadan in the league, but a lack of funding and settled leadership meant the vision did not start immediately. Then in 2005, with the help of Okon Ukpong — a cricket veteran and ex-Nigerian international — and a few other lovers of the game in Ibadan, the seed finally took root and began to sprout. He provided the leadership the idea needed, and rode on the strength and willingness of the younger players around him.
With that nexus established between Okon Ukpong and a few gentlemen — some who began their cricket life at Government College Ibadan, others who found their love of the game at the University of Ibadan — IMCC was born on the 1st of October 2005, with a vision to turn out young men who would champion a new course in Nigerian cricket. That same year the club lined up for its maiden participation in the Lagos CCC league and played its first ever match.
Originally the club was made up of young, vibrant and enthusiastic cricketers, most of whom attended Government College Ibadan, with the rest having come across the game at the University of Ibadan and grown to love it. As time went by the club began to embrace budding and talented cricketers — a legacy still very much alive in the club's philosophy. That blend of experienced, resourceful men and young, impressionable school leavers has given the club a priceless opportunity to reach out and affect lives in a positive way, and a number of players have used IMCC as a springboard into the national team across all age levels.
Over the years most of those young, enthusiastic cricketers have become stakeholders in the club, and have continued to uphold its strong culture of affecting young lives through the game. The presence of club players on critical committees within the Nigerian cricket community today reflects that same willingness to contribute.
Having existed unregistered for a while, Ibadan Metropolitan Cricket Club was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on the 27th of October 2011. The club's ground and secretariat is at the Liberty Stadium Cricket Oval in Ibadan.
Our objectives
- To create an avenue for members to play the game, relax and bond.
- To develop, integrate and foster cricket skills and personalities.
- To assist in the education and character development of younger players.
- To support cricket education through teaching in schools and other avenues.
On and off the field
Club achievements
From Division Two to Division One
IMCC played its first CCC league match during the 2005/2006 season as a new entrant to the Division 2 League, and consistently finished near the top of the table. That persistence was rewarded in 2021/22, when the club won the Division Two title of the Club Cricket Committee League and was promoted to Division One — the club's proudest league achievement to date.
A balanced squad
Working within a modest yearly budget, and with many of the experienced players holding demanding professional careers, the club has maintained a healthy mix of senior and younger players.
Players for the country
Nine IMCC junior players have been selected to play in the under-19 teams for Nigeria, including members of the squad that represented the country at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2020. Three players who came through the club have gone on to captain Nigeria.
A registered club
IMCC is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a club operating in Nigeria — giving the club a formal footing for partnerships, sponsorship and youth work.
The people
Trustees and officials
Board of Trustees
- Mr. Okon Ukpong
- Mr. Akinyemi Akinola
- Mr. Adeyemo Mayowa
- Mr. Odewumi Femi
Club officials
- Team Chairman Mr. Okon Ukpong
- Team Manager Mr. Akinyemi Akinola
- Team Captain Mr. Akintokun Olumide
- Team Vice-Captain Mr. Ajayi Akintunde
- Chief Operating Officer Mr. Ajayi Akintunde
- Team Legal Adviser Mr. Adeyemo Mayowa
Our projects
Ibadan Easter Cricket
Easter is the time of year when we celebrate family and spend quality time with loved ones. Ibadan Metropolitan Cricket Club, in conjunction with the University of Ibadan Cricket Club, thought it wise to organise family cricket games during this period, bringing friends together too.
The idea was to spend quality time together as a cricket family, to use the games as an awareness drive to get more people interested in the sport, and to serve as a youth development initiative. The first edition was held at the prestigious University of Ibadan cricket pitch in 2011, with many guests in attendance. Souvenirs and gift items have been donated by individuals, the University of Ibadan sports council and corporate bodies to make every edition memorable.
The Easter Cricket festival is now one of the most prestigious events in the Ibadan cricket community, and continues to contribute its quota to the growth of the game.
Family outreach
The Family Outreach is a day when we invite friends and family for barbecue and fun, with a little time set aside for cricket. It is a day we cherish as a family club, and a gentle way for newcomers to meet IMCC.