… Dikko, Olopade call for unity in Nigerian sports
Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has been elected as the new president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) after polling 48 votes against Olumide Oyedeji, who got 48 votes and Ejike Ugboaja, who got zero votes.
Abdullahi, who is also the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), was elected on Thursday in Abuja at the NBBF Elective Congress, which was held at the International Conference Centre Abuja, now Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, while Ugo Udezue emerged unopposed as vice president.
In his acceptance speech, the new NBBF President promised to focus on grassroots development and infrastructure renewal backed by strategic leadership and institutional reforms.
He also called for unity among stakeholders, saying it is time to move the game of basketball forward in Nigeria.
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He said, “My presidency will mark a decisive departure from business as usual. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expect a different result. Nigerian basketball needs more than enthusiasm; it needs strategic leadership, sound administration, institutional reforms and measurable results.
“The election is over; the work begins now. There will be no division in our pursuit of progress, no place for complacency, and no retreat from accountability.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General, Bukola Olopade, have called for unity in Nigerian sports, especially basketball.
Dikko, who declared the Congress open, charged the contestants to see the election as a family affair and not through the prism of politics. He pledged the continuous support of the Commission for Nigerian basketball, describing the Congress as a watershed not just in basketball but Nigerian sports in general.
Dikko said, “This election is not just a watershed in Nigerian basketball but Nigerian sports in general. I want to call for unity as we elect new members of NBBF today. If we go together in one direction, success is guaranteed and we’ll continue to support the NBBF.”
In his remarks, the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, charged the incoming administration to work as a family and take the game to the next level.
Speaking with Sporting Tribune, the chairman of the Kaduna State Basketball Association, Ahmed Tijani, urged the newly-elected President to prioritise grassroots development, create more competitions for young players and provide better opportunities for home-based talents.
Tijani, while assessing the state of Nigerian basketball, expressed optimism over the progress recorded in infrastructure and the structures established by the immediate past NBBF president, Engineer Musa Kida.
“I see a lot of improvement, particularly in infrastructure. We also have continued to build on the structures left behind by former president, Engineer Musa Kida. I see a lot of progress and excitement, especially among the players, who believe things are getting better,” he said.
He stated that grassroots development remains crucial to the future of the sport, urging the new NBBF leadership to establish competitions across the country to discover and nurture young talents.
“For Nigerian basketball to continue developing, we must invest in our grassroots players and talents. We need to give young children opportunities to play basketball, develop their abilities and excel in the sport,” Tijani stated.
On sponsorship, Tijani urged Mustapha to reconnect with sponsors who may have withdrawn their support for various reasons and develop a transparent, accountable system capable of attracting new corporate partners.
He emphasised that the federation must demonstrate the value of its programmes to potential sponsors, assuring them that their investments would be managed responsibly and produce measurable results.
According to him, rebuilding confidence among sponsors and creating sustainable funding opportunities would be essential to strengthening the domestic basketball league, improving player welfare and ensuring the long-term growth of Nigerian basketball.
