Preparations for the 2026 Africa charity polo showpiece are gathering pace, with more than twenty teams from across the country stepping up their training for an international festival that runs from May 30 to June 7, 2026. The action will take place at the Fifth Chukker Lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading charity polo events, the tournament is staged by Fifth Chukker and Access Bank. The 10-day competition will see squads chase the Charity Shield, the Access Bank Cup, and the Usman Dantata Cup, while fundraising for UNICEF education programmes for orphans and children facing vulnerability.
Funding focus and UNICEF partnership
- Access Bank said it has lifted its yearly contribution to N10 million to back UNICEF’s work in combating HIV/AIDS and supporting orphaned and vulnerable children.
- The bank added that the funds will be supplemented through donations, proceeds from gate admissions, and revenue generated from sales of official tournament memorabilia.
- In its remarks, Access Bank referenced ongoing collaboration in Kaduna with UNICEF, highlighting the need to do more for people in vulnerable circumstances, particularly at this time.
- It also described the upcoming tournament as both a reaffirmation of broader commitments to human socio-economic wellbeing and a recognition of the initiative’s influence on the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children across northern Nigeria, with emphasis on Kaduna State.
- UNICEF, meanwhile, restated its backing of the organisers, pointing out that millions of Nigerian children remain out of school—many of them from the north—and stressing its belief in education as a driver of social change.
- UNICEF said it looks forward to extending the partnership with Access Bank to help advance children’s rights.
The event is widely known as the Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament, a collaboration that has grown over the years into one of the biggest charitable sporting platforms globally.
Commitment from Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club
Officials from Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club said they are proud of the long-standing partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF. They noted that as the standard of polo continues to rise in Nigeria and draws a genuinely international audience, the charity element will continue in step—reflecting the same level of commitment on and off the field.
Education legacy in Kaduna
Since the tournament began, it has used the glamour of polo to support long-term investment in education and the wellbeing of vulnerable children in Northern Nigeria, especially in Kaduna State.
One of the programme’s standout accomplishments has been the delivery of a fully equipped 60-classroom school complex in Maraban Jos, Kaduna. New uniforms and shoes have been provided for students, and plans are in motion to add a further 100 classrooms. Student numbers have since passed the 20,000 mark, underlining the tournament’s sustained impact.
Teams set for the 2026 tournament
For the 2026 edition, the field will include former champions and long-time participants. The Access Bank team and the Fifth Chukker team are among the confirmed sides, as is Malcomines Polo Team from Jos in Plateau State.
Other entries include Clearwater Polo Farm, the Access Bank Cup title holders from Kaduna; MSD/BabyBear from Lagos; and Max Air Polo from Katsina. The organisers also expect additional ambitious outfits from Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Keffi, and other locations around the country.
Tournament structure and travelling event
The tournament is scheduled in three phases. It will begin in Kaduna State, move to Access Bank Polo Day in the United Kingdom, and finish in South Africa. The schedule will also feature the Herbert Wigwe Memorial Cup.
Recap of last year’s climax
Last year’s tournament ended with dramatic successes for Clearwater, Access Bank, and the Katsina Max Air sides at the Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Resort. The occasion drew dignitaries, sports enthusiasts, and philanthropists, and also welcomed special guest Amadou Gallo Fall, the Senegalese NBA executive, who praised the bank’s backing of school basketball and martial arts initiatives.
