Basketball

NBBF: Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) working to ruin basketball in Nigeria

Published

4 years ago

May 1, 2022

…Will violate their statute if they fail to recognise Kida and the newly elected executives – Dr. Glover

By Maxwell Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel

The last has not been seen or heard in the plot by the Sports Ministry and its Minister, Chief Sunday Dare and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to subtly and cunningly destroy the game of basketball in Nigeria.

Since the new board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) was put in place three months ago at the Elective Congress of the NBBF, the NOC which is the eye of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Nigeria, has turned a blind eye to the destructive activities and actions of the Sports Ministry and the Minister.

FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG can authoritatively report that the inaction of the NOC and the lack of backing to the NBBF is a ploy by the NOC and the Sports Ministry to ruin basketball which has been making waves in the last five years and has put the country at the world stage again after years of inactivity.

In an interview in Lagos with High Profile Sports Administrator and a Trustee of the NOC, Dr. Lanre Glover, stated in clear terms that the NOC will be violating its Statute if they fail to recognize Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida and his board.

Hear Dr Glover, “Article 3.6 of the NOC Constitution states clearly that while NOC shall cooperate with the appointed agencies of the Federal, State and Local Government and other Non-Governmental organizations established for the promotion of Sports. But the NOC shall preserve its autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind including those of Politics, religious or economic nature that may prevent the NOC from complying with its constitution and the Charter/Constitution of the sporting bodies it is affiliated to and those affiliated to it.

“It is clear the NOC has no choice in this matter. The NOC is a partner of the Ministry and not a subservient body. Article 1.2 of the NOC Clearly spells this out. The NOC Is NON-GOVERNMENTAL, non-profit, AUTONOMOUS association with status of a legal person and registered as such with Corporate Affairs Commission.”

“It is very sad that the Minister and the Ministry saddled with promotion of Sports are actually the cog in the wheel of progress of Basketball. When I was Chairman of Handball, Basketball was no where, it was handball and volleyball after football. Today Basketball is very close to football and have risen to such enviable height that we have the responsibility to protect that position and not go on an ego trip.” Dr Lanre Glover, Trustee NOC said.

“Any of the Chairmen including Ahmadu Musa Kida can be Minister. There is nothing about being a Minister. There have been 4 Association Chairmen who have been Minister Anthony Ikazeboh was Chairman of Football, Eng. Ndanusa Lawn Tennis, Prof Taoreed Adedoja Disabled Sports as it was called in those days and Air Commodore Emeka Emerua NFA. So the Chairmen must be accorded their due respect.” The former President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria added.

“Yes the Basketball Federation has some issues but instead of helping to resolve the issue, the Ministry under the current Minister Chief Sunday Dare have made the problems worse.

“An election was conducted under a constitution approved By the Basketball Congress in which all stakeholders were represented including the Sports Ministry, FIBA and NOC and yet the NOC and Ministry as well as the Minister Failed to recognize what he approved. He setup a Reconciliation Committee and still he refuses to accept the Recommendation of a Committee he set up.” the widely travelled administrator cried.

Dr Glover, who is also an Executive Member of African Union of Sports Medicine told FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG that it’s ridiculously enough, the Ministry claims they were waiting for the report of the two elections. There was only one Election as the so called second election stood on no leg and the Ministry that was behind it to muddy the waters , had no courage to send a representative and yet they considered it an election.

“Again, the World Governing Body of Basketball (FIBA) spoke loud and clear that they recognize Kida’s board for four years. One would think it is an opportunity to close the chapter, yet the Minister and his Ministry have gone dead silent and come up spurious claims of improper articles in the Basketball Constitution which they approved.. I think we must act with dignity. All these unnecessary interference must stop. It is time that the NOC must step in and have the courage to tell the Minister that he is wrong and he is building a terrible legacy with his cohorts.” Dr Glover the Medical Director of Royal Firmary Group stressed.

“Weather the Minister likes it or not Kida, Ogunade, Oyedeji, Udezue, Ahmedu and the rest board members of the NBBF will spend their four years and for sure will outlive the Minister who must go next year. FIBA has spoken and NOC must speak. Any improper action by the Minister will only attract sanctions from FIBA and the blame will lie on the door step of the current Sports Minister Chief Sunday Dare. The players will suffer, coaches will suffer and Basketball Supporters will suffer.” the only Nigerian to serve on the International Handball Federation (IHF) explained.

Dr Lanre Glover, the chairman of the electoral committee of the NBBF said he deliberately opened up the normination period to allow the opposition to enter the race and the likes of Olumide Oyedeji took advantage of that window.

It will interest you to know that this experienced and passionate Sports administrator has personally written to the Sports Minister before and after the NBBF Elective Congress in Benin City, Edo State of the need to support the new board for the game of basketball in Nigeria to continue it’s geometric rise.

Nigeria is involved in two international competitions later this year. The first is the second window of the World Championship qualifying series in Kigali, Rwanda starting on the first of July while the Women’s Basketball World Cup finals holds in Sydney, Australia in September.

The failure of the Sports Ministry and the Minister Chief Sunday Dare to allow the NBBF run it’s activities with attract the anger of the International Basketball Governing Body (FIBA) thereby closing the doors of Nigeria Basketball to the rest of the world.

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Basketball

Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA

Published

7 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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