Sports

Abdullahi Begins NBBF Tenure with Promise of Renewed Growt

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2026

By Joel Ajayi

Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has pledged a new era of growth, unity and institutional reforms in Nigerian basketball following his election as President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) in Abuja on Thursday.

Abdullahi, President of the DAM Foundation and Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, secured 40 of the 48 votes cast at the elective congress held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), defeating former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji, who polled eight votes, while former international Ejike Ugboaja received none.

Former presidential aspirant Igoche Mark had withdrawn from the race on Wednesday, citing concerns over the fairness and credibility of the electoral process.

Abdullahi succeeds outgoing president Musa Kida, while Ugo Udezue emerged as vice-president unopposed, having been the sole candidate for the position.

In his acceptance speech, the new NBBF president described his election as an opportunity to reposition Nigerian basketball through strategic leadership, administrative reforms and sustainable development.

He expressed gratitude to the delegates who supported his candidacy, stressing that his victory belonged to players, coaches, officials and young Nigerians who aspire to build careers through basketball.

Recalling his early days in the sport, Abdullahi said his personal experiences, including playing without proper footwear and overcoming financial difficulties, had strengthened his determination to create better opportunities for upcoming players.

He emphasised that talent alone could not guarantee success without proper structures, institutional support and deliberate investment in the game.

“My presidency will mark a decisive departure from business as usual. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expect a different result,” he said.

Abdullahi identified grassroots development, stronger domestic leagues, players’ welfare, improved facilities and investment in coaches and referees as priorities of his administration.

He also promised to advance women’s basketball and strengthen the national teams, including D’Tigers, D’Tigress and the youth sides, while ensuring that basketball provides pathways to education, employment and entrepreneurship.

The new president further pledged to promote transparency, accountability and unity within the federation, calling on state associations, clubs and other stakeholders to support the reform agenda.

He said his administration would pursue partnerships with corporate organisations, private investors, international basketball institutions and Nigerians in the diaspora to make the sport commercially sustainable.

Abdullahi added that his administration would soon unveil a comprehensive implementation blueprint detailing its programmes, measurable targets and strategies for achieving sustainable progress.

He extended an olive branch to those who supported other candidates, insisting that the election should mark the beginning of collective efforts to move Nigerian basketball forward.

“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,” he said.

Abdullahi stressed that his administration would be judged by its achievements, the institutions it strengthens and the opportunities it creates, expressing confidence that unity and collaboration would help Nigerian basketball realise its potential.

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Cyclists, Athletes, Fitness Communities others Set for 5th Chaingang MTB Festival in Abuja

Published

8 hours ago

October 16, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Cyclists, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts are set to converge on Abuja for the 5th edition of the Abuja Chaingang Mountain Bike (MTB) Festival and 10th year anniversary of the the club scheduled for November 21–22, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Chairman of the MTB Festival Organising Committee, Mr Olatunji Olanrewaju, said the event would mark a significant milestone in the development of competitive cycling in Nigeria.

Organised by the Chaingang Cycling Club Abuja in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), the festival will introduce Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race courses, alongside the unveiling of the Sunrise Hills MTB Course in Asokoro, bordering Guzape.

The organisers said the new courses feature natural terrain, steep climbs, rocky descents, switchbacks and panoramic ridgelines designed to challenge riders and promote competitive mountain biking.

The festival, adopted as Nigeria’s national qualifier for international mountain biking competitions, will provide cyclists with opportunities to compete for qualification slots for major championships, with prize money available across race categories.

Olanrewaju disclosed that the festival had attracted several cycling teams over the years, including foreign participants in almost every edition, expressing optimism that the 2026 event would attract even greater participation.

He called on sponsors, government agencies, security institutions and multinational organisations to support the festival, noting that their participation would help strengthen Nigeria’s outdoor sports industry and enhance the country’s international sporting profile.

Also speaking, the Technical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Bashiru Mohammed, described the festival as an important platform for developing cycling and strengthening the country’s cycling community.

Mohammed said the competition was open to cyclists and cycling groups across Nigeria and beyond, adding that the organisers would share information about the event with international partners to encourage wider participation.

He explained that the professional races would feature male and female competitors in the XCC and XCO categories, while the programme would also include activities for children.

According to him, the competition would help Nigerian cyclists prepare for next year’s championship for emerging countries, which he likened to an Olympic-style gathering of athletes from different sporting disciplines.

In his remarked, the CFN Secretary-General of the federation, Joel Akinuwa, said prize money remained an important feature of the festival, noting that participants in the previous edition received financial rewards in addition to opportunities to qualify for the African Championships and other major international competitions.

Akinuwa added that winners across the various categories in the 2026 edition would also receive prize money, providing further motivation for cyclists to compete.

Beyond the elite races, the two-day festival will feature a trail run, children’s mountain bike race, veterans’ recreational ride, city-wide fitness ride and hiking campout.

The event will also incorporate corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Jigakushi School Restoration Project and the Road Safety Street Mural Initiative, aimed at promoting community development and road safety awareness.

The organisers said the festival would bring together professional athletes, recreational cyclists, families, young people, fitness enthusiasts, media organisations and international observers, while promoting tourism, youth development and community engagement.

They added that the long-term vision was to position Abuja and Nigeria as leading mountain biking destinations in Africa, capable of hosting international competitions and attracting athletes from across the continent and beyond.

Registration for the 2026 Abuja Chaingang MTB Festival is ongoing through the club’s website, www.chaingang.ng.

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