Sports

SRAP, Ganon Baker Ready to Bridge Basketball Tactical Gap in Nigeria

Published

4 years ago

July 29, 2022

…over 400 Nigerian coaches, Athletes to receive 2-week training

Joel Ajayi

An international sports Non-Governmental Organisation, known as the Sports Renaissance Africa Partners SRAP, has set to bring one of the best and most famous basketball coaches in the world, Ganon Baker to Nigeria that can help develop Nigerian coaches, Athletes as well as young talents across the country.

The group said Nigeria is not doing bad basketball-wise but needs to focus on coaching clinics to develop grassroots basketball in the country.

Chief Executive Officer of SRAP Mrs. Relindis Mbu on Friday in Abuja briefing Journalists on the preparations for the two weeks coaching course for over 400 Nigeria including coaches, players as well as young ones in Abuja and Lagos respectively.

She expressed that, with the proper coaching and training of Athletes and coaches Nigeria would be among the best country to be reckoning in basketball globally.

According to her, the organization had concluded plans to organize an internationally certified coaching clinic with renowned

“At SRAP, we are passionate about bringing in experts from the world with a tactical experience that can help develop our young talents.

“The training clinic and certification program with the renowned Ganon Baker will hold in Abuja at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium from Aug. 15 to Aug. 20; while that of Lagos is from Aug. 22- Aug. 27.”

Speaking further, Mbu said the NGO was working with Baker because of his over 30 decades of experience in the game and his systematic curriculum that takes young players from zero to pro.

She said SRAP would also be working with other stakeholders and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to ensure better exposure and scouting for young Nigerian talents.

In his remark, the Chief Operating Officer of SRAP, Terfa Akpoyibo said that the coaching clinic with Baker which would be a continuous program would go a long way in developing Nigeria’s grassroots basketball.

However, SRAP is a sports business organization focused on championing industry standards in the delivery of quality sports development in Africa.

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Sports

Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit

Published

3 hours ago

October 29, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.

In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.

With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.

The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.

Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.

Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.

Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.

The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.

Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.

“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent.
We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.

He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.

The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.

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