Basketball

NBBF assures sponsors of maximum mileage

Published

7 years ago

September 15, 2019

…meets Andre Ighoudala

In the light of the continued successes of its National Teams on the international scene, the Nigeria Basketball Federation has assured prospective sponsors of media mileage and global business exposure.

The federation, through its Vice President, Babatunde Ogunade said this on Friday during a meeting with Afro-American basketball superstar, Andre Ighoudala who is on an official trip to Nigeria.

According to Ogunade, the Nigeria Basketball Federation is leaving no stone unturned in boosting its financial capacity as relying on government as its sole financier is not sustainable in the long term.

Ogunade who in the company of fellow board members, Felix Awogu and Oni Afolabi said it was high time sponsors identified basketball as one of the key federations capable of positively exposing their brands to the global market.

“Since we took over in 2017, we have continued to enjoy unimaginable successes on the global stage. D’Tigress have won two Afrobasket titles, gotten to the quarter final of the World Cup while the men won silver medal at the 2017 Afrobasket, first country in the world to qualify for the World Cup as well as finishing as the best African team at the just concluded World Cup to pick the 2020 Olympics ticket.”

“The 3×3 teams have conquered Africa, been to the World Cup and are a strong force to reckon with. Today, I can boldly say basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in Nigeria.”

Sequel to the new found status of basketball on the global stage, the NBBF believes private investors have a lot to gain in terms of media exposure if they partner with the federation.

“All eyes are on our national teams while the global media buzz around the teams have continued to increase. Investors, partners and sponsors have a lot to gain.”

“We have so many grassroots programs, Men’s Divisions one and two, the Zenith Women League and the Men’s Premier League that are in need of attention.”, Ogunade said.

In his response, Ighoudala who has won three NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors as well as the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympics titles with USA praised the performance of the D’Tigers at the World Cup.

“Congratulations on the qualification for the Olympics. I monitored the performance of the team in China and I was impressed by this amazing team. I also heard about the women’s team which also won the 2019 title. These achievements are commendable.”

Currently on the books of Memphis Grizzlies, the Silicon Valley investor and Jumia Nigeria, Ighoudala assured the federation that he will look at possible ways to partner the federation in growing basketball in Nigeria.

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Basketball

Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA

Published

5 days ago

September 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

President/Founder, Amateur Basketball Academies, ABA, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar has called for a scientific and pragmatic approach to rediscovering the game of basketball in the North East.

The former player of many teams in Nigeria stated this on Saturday during training of coaches in Yola, Adamawa State.

Aliyu said the training is aimed to arm Coaches so they can, in turn, reach the children, especially those that ABA may not. The Deputy Comptroller in Nigeria Customs Service decried non-challant attitudes of the stakeholders in the development of basketball in the North East.

” Basketball is fading in the North East, and we at ABA will not allow it to die.”

“Adamawa was once a force in the game of basketball but had fallen behind. Our plan is to discover talent through coaching training, nurture it, and carry it from state level to the national team, and eventually, the global stage.” The basketball administrator said.

In his keynote message to the participants, which centered on the theme, “HOPE,” Harnessing opportunity, Organising for excellence, Promoting players’ development, and Empowering the next generation, Aliyu said, is far more than a drill instructors.

” Every child you see on a basketball court has a dream, and it is our job as a coach to spot it early and give it somewhere to go.” He concluded.

In his lecture titled, ” Who is a Coach”, Emmanuel Odah, the head Coach, FCT Basketball and former National Juniors team, described a coach as a committed, organised, affectionate, caring and humble.

” Commitment is consistency, and consistency is mother of progress; humility comes first because a coach who can not control himself can never control a game,” Odah insisted.

Other instructors at the training include ABA head of technical, Coach Adeka Daudu, as well as Coach Alexander Anyebe Ujoh, who spoke about the relationship between a coach and child in his care.

Coaches at the training commended ABA for its boldness to give hopes to basketball coaches all over the country. They promised that lessons learned would reshape and reset their mind on the job. They said the training will help them in understanding their role not only as an instructor but also grooming the children for a better future.

Among guests at the event include FCT Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Iyiola Ogundele and Bayelsa Veteran Basketball administrator, Coach Tony

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