The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has tasked members of the newly-constituted Interim Management Committee (IMC) saddled with the responsibility to reposition basketball in Nigeria to deliver on their mandate to develop youth and grassroots basketball in the country.
Dare stated this on Saturday in Abuja while delivering his keynote address at the event which was held at the Indoor Hall package B of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
According to the minister, the IMC must among others see to the talents covered and nurtured from the grassroots as well as corporate sponsorships for the growth of the game.
He said, “The terms of reference of the Committee are to amongst others,
draw up pro programs will revamp basketball from the grassroots,
attract corporate sponsors and revive the moribund domestic leagues for
the development of the game within two years, and ensure the development
of basketball facilities in the entire country, and any other thing that will
facilitate the development of Basketball in Nigeria.
“I, therefore, charge you all to carry out this enormous task with the utmost sense of responsibility, bearing in mind you cannot afford to fail in this National assignment.”
The minister however warned in as much as sports federations derive their powers from the Federal Government of Nigeria, they must work in the interest of the country and work in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Sports. He added that the relationship between sports federations and governments should be constructive, collaborative and complementary, and not antagonistic or adversarial.
“Sports Federations in Nigeria cannot be bigger than the country, because their legitimacy stems from the sovereignty of Nigeria. Whenever there is a departure (from collaborative relationships), it becomes clear that other interests over and above that of the sports and the athletes have crept in. Federations draw their legitimacy from the Federal Government of Nigeria and a sovereign Nigeria.”
The chairman of the IMC, Dr . Henry Nzekwu, promised that the committee will deliver on its mandate while calling on the Federal Government to give the committee all the support it needed to deliver.
“We are going to work on far-reaching reforms that will bring back the domestic league and restore Nigeria’s glory in basketball. We will be selfless in the discharge of our mandate and will reach out to aggrieved parties, and players for the way forward. We want the Federal Government to provide the Interim Management Committee the support it needed to deliver on its mandate.”
The Interim Management Committee includes Dr. Henry Nzekwu as Chairman. Members are; Mr. Udon Ubon Humapwa, Mr. Frank Jituboh, Zenith Bank Representative, Prof. Adamu Ahmed a, and Mr. Peter Nelson.
Others are Group Captain Rahinatu Garba, Aderemi Adewunmi, Oluchi Nzekwe a, and Seni Adio (SAN).
