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Internal squabble sinking Nigeria’s basketball

Nigeria’s D’Tigers just returned from Tunisia where they fell flat losing all three games at the first qualifying window of the 2025 Afrobasket. They lost their opening game to Libya after getting into Over Time and then to Uganda and Cape Verde.

This set of Tigers was hurriedly assembled after the Nigeria Basketball Federation got the approval from the Ministry of Sports Development to source for funds and travel. The federation had announced withdrawal from the competition – an announcement that shocked the basketball world. It was tough to imagine that the same Nigeria that defeated the USA just before the Tokyo Olympics would sink to the low of not being able to attend a qualifying event and worse still lose three straight games.

The outing in Tunisia last week can be seen like a continuation of what happened with D’Tigers last August in Lagos. Nigeria was host to the Olympic qualifier. It was a very bold and glamorous event held in the luxury build of Eko Hotel. The entire Expo Centre was converted to a single hall with everything needed for a world basketball event. One of the coaches was so moved by the sights and scenes that he took time to praise the organization before answering the question on his team.

“This is the first time I have played basketball matches under the Chandelier. Everything about this competition is fantastic.”

It was a lovely sight but Nigeria could not present a determined side and lost out badly. But just a few years ago D’Tigers became the first team in the whole world to qualify for the FIBA World Cup. Nigeria qualified five games left to play in the qualifiers. This was one of the reasons the Tigers became very attractive to the world. Nigerians in the NBA loved the NBBF management style such that a few Americans quickly traced their lineage to Nigeria just to play for the country at the Tokyo Olympics. At this stage there was internal peace even though there were external aggressors against the NBBF. And the federation had some funds that helped them chase noble goals.

Today, the setting is painfully changing and it has become very obvious that internal fights hurt goals more than external oppositions. The NBBF led by Engr Musa Ahmadu Kida is facing quite some battles indoors and these battles have not helped the board and the players.

The 1996/97 fight

The trouble in the NBBF did not start today. What is new is the shape of the fight and those involved. In the 1996/1997 era, a young army officer then Major Sam Ahmedu challenged Alhaji U.K Umar (then a high ranking Nigeria Immigration officer) for the presidency. Ahmedu was fully backed by his friend Musa Kida and some others while the likes of Jacob Gwang Buba (the current Gbong Gwon Jos) and Tijanni Umar the former NBBF President stood by the immigration officer. The disagreement did not end with the election as it continued thereafter until Umar finished his tenure and handed over to Buba. It was only the eight years of Buba’s tenure that NBBF enjoyed some peace. Buba moved up to become the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs and tactically deployed his status, wisdom to keep things calm.

When he left TJ Umar took over in a way that made the Ahmedu group feel that the sports ministry did not give others the chance to contest. Four years after, there was another quarrel over the elections and the Ahmedu/Kida team walked out. Ahmedu ended up in court to “enforce his fundamental rights” as he said he was denied his place.

Courts cases and others

When Kida became the NBBF president the TJ Umar group went to court over the ownership of the Premier League. Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji was with Umar until he crossed over to the Kida side just as the last election was about to hold. The Umar group was disappointed and made serious efforts to get Olumide back on the day of the election. The near seven footer received calls for nearly two hours in Benin City under pressure to withdraw. While the Umar side feels betrayed, it does not appear that Oyedeji’s loyalty to his new friends has been fully accepted.

But then after the elections in Benin, the NBBF set out to work. The election was well conducted by Dr Lanre Glover, a long time president of the Nigeria Handball Federation. Everyone assumed the professional way the election was conducted would give a fresh breath of life to the NBBF. Internally, they got fresh breath but the sports ministry under Sunday Dare was still playing a hide-and-seek game with the federation. The ministry was reluctant to fully accept the board as its officials covertly supported another group that held a Kangaroo type of election at the Abuja stadium. Only a few insiders could figure out the deep interest of the supervising ministry in the NBBF affairs.

The height of it was the minister’s decision to withdraw the women’s national team, D’Tigress from the FIBA World Cup with just weeks to the event. The ministry announced it wanted to “reorganize Nigeria basketball from the grassroots” and produce home-bred champions. It was a ludicrous decision that left the world laughing at Nigeria. This action is certainly the biggest setback Nigeria basketball has suffered since 1960.

Before this time, politically motivated players had done a video revolting against the NBBF and of which their reasons were pecuniary. Eventually the back-to-back African champions were disbanded.

This NBBF was still very united and fought back until they got the full recognition they deserved and needed but before this official recognition came; a lot of damage had been done as the committee created by the ministry had moved around. They had gone to corporate bodies for sponsorship just like the NBBF – a situation that made organizations to wonder who to deal with.

D’Tigress have rebounded to the top but their rebuilding showed great cracks in the NBBF. The body was divided on how to relate with the players and at the end a decision was taken to start afresh with an open camp to all Nigerian players. Another strong point was getting them a new coach. A very young Nigerian-American Rena Wakama was recruited to run the team. It was from within the NBBF that the public heard that Rena was too “inexperienced and not exposed enough” to handle a team like the Tigress. The young lady was reading all that on the net as she confirmed in an interview just before the team’s first outing. The negative reports would later spur the coach and her young players to winning the African cup in Rwanda and the Olympic ticket in Belgium. The negatives from Nigeria were so much that the largely new players confirmed that people called Nigeria Team C when they arrived in Rwanda.

Recruiting coaches and ambitions

The coach issue was not limited to D’Tigress but it caused problems in the men’s side too. After Nigeria played at the World Cup in China and qualified for the Olympics with Alex Nwora as the coach, it was learnt that talks began about getting an NBA coach for the men. It was understood that the NBA players in a way suggested that. The Federation therefore got Mike Brown to serve as the head coach with Alex Nwora as his assistant.

Sam Ahmedu spoke openly against this decision as the crack began to widen. This disagreement has continued to show in other areas too. Ahmedu who has used every public medium to state his disagreement in some of the decisions insists that Kida is running the board almost “like a sole administrator.” He insists they are briefed on major matters rather than everyone putting heads together first. He says the federation is run by just about five members taking the decisions.

But another member in a discussion last December said it was not true.

“The problem is that Col Sam (Ahmedu) wants to be in charge all the time. If he recruits we accept it, hoping its good judgment but anyone who does not come through him would be condemned. That’s just the problem.”

The former D’Tigress coach Otis Hugley, we understand, was introduced to the board by Ahmedu when Sam Vincent’s deal was terminated and he was accepted. For the men, a united NBBF wanted Ime Udoka first but Ime was just starting his NBA managerial career and said he could not afford to shuttle both continents at the time and so a long time friend of Ahmedu, Alex Nwora was brought in. Nwora in his own right had coached Cape Verde in an Afrobasket competition in Angola and they defeated Nigeria. His only “disadvantage” was that he’s a high school coach and the NBBF was not comfortable with that status going to the Olympics with a full squad of NBA players and therefore sought Mike Brown – a decision that forced Nwora out and raised further murmurings within.

Men’s Premier League

The biggest minus for this board and their infighting is that the Men’s Premier League has failed to play in full season for years. Getting a full sponsor for the league has remained a huge task with all the distractions that come from the federation. It has been nearly a deal but none has worked. The NBBF has done well with the men’s divisions one and two with full sponsorship but the flagship competition is suffering.

The atmosphere has not helped the national teams, especially the men. All manner of gist and rumours have forced some American-based players to stay away unlike the pre-Tokyo Olympics period when everyone wanted to play for Nigeria.

The Peace Move

Nigerians are indeed worried but there appears to be a faint hope from afar that someday some peace would come. A former director in the Ministry of Sports Alhaji Abba Yola is one of those picked by concerned citizens to help bring the NBBF Board back to a united front. Incidentally, the major actors in the NBBF imbroglio have been close friends for nearly 40 forty years.

“Such meeting can’t be a Zoom or online talk; we need to sit down together and let them talk like adults. We’ve been discussing individually but this is a very busy year from the Africa Games to the Olympics but somehow we will find a way. These men need to put the players and Nigeria first and once we can achieve that every other thing will fall in place.”

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Francis And Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation Unveils New Logo, Announces 2025 Essay Competition

 

Sequel to the name change effected four years ago as published in a National Newspaper from Francis Ibhawoh foundation to ‘FRANCIS AND FIDELIA IBHAWOH FOUNDATION’, the body in a press statement reiterate it’s are pleasure to announce that the name change reflects the shared values and lifelong commitment of Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh to Education, Community Development, and Youth Empowerment. 

“While the foundation’s name has evolved, our mission and core values remain unchanged, as we continue to strive for a positive impact in our local communities, while also empowering young people to find their voices and shape their future.”

Speaking at an event held in Lagos on the 16th of March 2025 to unveil the Foundation’s new logo, the Chairman of the Foundation, Gerard Ibhawoh states that, “the name change is more than symbolic. As it is a testament to the shared vision, values, and dedication of Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh, whose lifelong commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people and communities continues to inspire us”.

He also announced that in line with the foundation’s commitment to fostering intellectual discourse and critical thinking, the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation, is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 2025 edition of its annual essay competition for undergraduates.

The 2025 Essay Competition has the theme, ‘Sports As a Catalyst for Social Change and National Development: In what ways can sports foster social inclusion, peacebuilding and youth empowerment?’

It further remarked that sports have the power to bridge divides, inspire communities, and drive meaningful change. How can we harness this power for a better society?

Entries for the essay competition opened April 01, 2025, and closes on

May 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on June 02, 2025, and with a prize money of N100,000 each for the best essays. And for further information, interested participants can reach out to:  www.ibhawohfoundation.com, and contact@ibhawohfoundation.com

The Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation reaffirms its dedication to championing education, youth development, and community progress. As it looks forward to receiving insightful essays from young thinkers across the nation, in the bids to continue to inspire positive change.

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Aiyedatiwa Charges Team Ondo To Win Niger Delta Sports Festival

 

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has attended the opening ceremony of maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival at Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

The sports festival, promoted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is holding in Akwa Ibom State between April 1 and 9, 2025, with states from the Niger Delta region participating.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Chairman, National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, who represented President Bola Tinubu; Akwa Ibom State Governor and the Chief Host, Pastor Umo Eno, Executive Director, Corporate Services, NDDC, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, MD/CEO, NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, Permanent Secretary, Ministry Youth and Sports Development, Tolulope Adeyemi, among others

In his remarks at the event, Governor Aiyedatiwa commended the management of the NDDC for putting the competition together, stressing that the initiative will go a long way in promoting grassroots Sports and engaging the youths of the region.

The Governor also thanked his Akwa Ibom State colleague for hosting the competition, describing the atmosphere at the venue as electrifying.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also took time to interact with members of the Ondo State contingent at the competition.

Adressing the athletes and coaches from the State, the Governor urged them to make Ondo proud by bringing home laurels.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also charged officials of the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to take good care of the team throughout the competition.

Team Ondo was the first contingent to arrive in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State’s capital, for the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).

The team is made up of 313 athletes and 56 coaches, participating in various track and field sports at the competition.

The Ondo State contingent is led by Mrs. Tolu Adeyemi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.

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Niger Delta Sports Festival opens with glitz and glamour

 

It was an exhilarating exhibition of beauty, enchantment and the wealth of cultural diversity in the Niger Delta region at the Uyo Township Stadium on Wednesday as the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) was declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid a special feel of splendour and magnificence.

 

The president was represented by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko who charged the athletes to replicate the glitz of the festival’s opening ceremony in their performance during the actual competition.

 

In what was a gathering of personalities and participants from all walks of life, the much talked about opening ceremony lived up to its lofty billing – graced by the powers that be and embraced by a cheering stadium spectators and millions of TV audience across the globe.

 

In the audience were the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, representative of the Delta State Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguarivwodo, state sports commissioners from the nine states, members of the National Assembly and top officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

 

The showpiece was about the best way to kickstart what promises to be an intense sporting event which is expected to leave a lasting legacy, not only for the host state Akwa Ibom but the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.

 

Led by the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, no fewer than 10,000 persons defied the torrential downpour that lasted hours to throng into the re-born sporting facility at the heart of the emerging metropolis of Uyo which is gradually becoming the hub of sporting activities in Nigeria.

 

In one voice they sang and danced in the rain to usher in a competition poised to become the major talking point in the discovery of future Kings and Queens of Sports in the continent, especially since the Niger Delta region reserves the right as one that gave birth to some of the best sporting heroes the continent of Africa can ever boast of.

 

Pastor Eno’s commitment to this cause was evident for all on the night, showing everyone why his administration gracefully accepted the hosting rights to stage the festival, stressing that this was just one of his administration’s conscious efforts at promoting sports and giving youths a chance to make a name for themselves and the nation.

 

The festival torch was lit by Olympian, Enefiok Udo-Obong and was supported by Festival Ambassadors including Victor Ikpeba, Seun Ogunkoya, Paralympian Patience Igbiti and Tamunosiki Atorudibo.

 

Afrobeat star, Phyno brought the night to an entertaining close with some of his hit songs which got the athletes cheering, chanting and dancing.

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