Sports

NBFF Secretary General’s Abuse Of Office Unprecedented, Damaging To The Federation

Published

4 years ago

January 16, 2022

…As stakeholder’s worried over her retrogressive actions

Leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation is calling on the Honorable Minister of Sports, Chief Sunday Dare to call the NBBF Secretary to order before her damaging actions in the federation plunge the sport into political crisis and utter chaos.

This call has become necessary after the Secretary General, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi, has unilaterally entered into a partnership with a private league because of the NBBF’s delayed Board elections.

For observers, the numerous actions she has taken reeks of desperation and gross abuse of office, while openly expressing support for an interested party in the forthcoming NBBF Board elections.

“The Secretary General has continued to usurp so much of the powers of NBBF with most of them very unpopular and highly controversial”

“This is not fair to other consistent stakeholders and investors. The Honorable Minister must intervene so that she does not plunge the sport into a fresh round of crisis”.

“Many will want to know how a private league was selected by the Secretary General, amongst all the private initiatives, leagues and camps across the six geo-political zones and given preferential attention”.

NBBF leadership noted that since the SG has become the only person in charge of the Secretariat, as an exclusive preserve being staff of the Ministry of Sports, she has continued to apportion so much power to herself that she virtually commits so many blunders with no repercussions!

“She has taken it upon herself to massively abuse the office of the SG by unilaterally using the letterhead of the federation to officially invite teams and even technical officials to participate in a privately organized league that will take place in Abuja, and this is unprecedented.”

For keen observers, her decision reeks of double standard and clear favoritism going into the Board elections in the coming days, as directed by the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA).

Her recent actions validates the saying that “absolute powers corrupts absolutely” because without the effective necessary checks from the board, she has continued to take unilateral decisions capable of harming the sport and the federation.

The Honorable Minister will save the sports, and indeed the Federation, from irreversible damage by calling on her to put a stop to her controversial decisions, communications and do a lot of proper consultations with the leadership of the NBBF for useful decisions to be taken. Decisions that will bring sustainable growth and unity in a fragile NBBF, which she has helped create and sustain.

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Sports

FAME Foundation to the World: Para Athletes Need Empowerment, Not Sympathy

Published

2 hours ago

October 8, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi
The founder of FAME Foundation (Female Advocacy, Mentoring, and Empowerment), Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, has called on the global community to support, not pity, para athletes.

Speaking at the recently concluded Play the Game 2025 Conference held in Tampere, Finland, Atoyebi emphasized that athletes with physical challenges require empowerment, policy support, and inclusion not sympathy.

Aderonke, a fearless journalist and lifelong advocate for women and girls in sports, has consistently championed the rights of marginalized groups through her foundation.

Known for her bold and passionate advocacy, she reiterated that para athletes deserve the same opportunities and resources as their able-bodied counterparts.

The international conference, held from October 5th to 8th, brought together journalists, policymakers, and global stakeholders to discuss pressing issues under the theme: “Breaking Barriers in Sports: Integration of Marginalized Groups and Persons with Disabilities.”

Delivering a powerful and interactive lecture, Atoyebi stated: “I want to conclude by saying that para athletes around the globe need our support, policy reviews, and implementation—not our pity. They don’t need sympathy; what they truly need is empowerment.”

Her impactful contribution at the event further amplified Africa’s voice in the global call for inclusion, equality, and policy-driven change in the world of sports.

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