The Nigeria Basketball Federation has released a comprehensive programme of activities for 2025, coming on the heels of its board meeting held earlier in January, 2025.

The programmes of basketball activities which was ratified by the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), led by its President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has been termed by stakeholders and enthusiasts as ‘Consolidation Time’.

Beginning from February 5-9, 2025, the Nigeria Senior Female Basketball team, D’Tigress are expected to feature in a friendly invitational tournament billed for Belarus; February 17-25, 2025, would see the D’Tigers participate in the 2025 FIBA AFRO Basket qualifiers taking place in Tripoli, Libya.

Activities for March, 2025, include the 1st Phase of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season; Finals of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season, as well as, the 1st Phase Women Zenith Bank league Division 1. Also, there would be the NBBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) and stakeholders Forum, to hold between February/March at a venue to be decided.

April 2025, begins with BAL Season 5, with Nigeria’s representatives Rivers Hoppers competing with other 11 teams in the championship holding respectively in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda and Pretoria, South Africa.

Also in April 2025, there would be refresher courses for Technical Officials, in Lagos and Abuja. The 1st Phase of NBBF Men Premier Basketball League would hold across the country; there also would be the 1st Phase of Zenith Bank Women Premier league in

two conferences.

Activities for May-June 2025, includes the 1st Phase U19 Girls National camps in Nigeria/USA, for the World championship; followed by the National U16 & U18 Boys and Girls championship; the NBBF Board Meeting would also hold during this period.

This period would also have the 2nd Phase of NBBF Men’s Premier Basketball League; 2nd Phase of Zenith Bank Premier Women league; as well as, national camp for U16 boys and girls, and FIBA Zone 3 U16 African Championship qualifiers (Boys & Girls).

Between July- August, 2025, D’Tigress would open camp in Nigeria/USA for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket 2025; followed by the National U19 Girls;  And in July 25th – August 3rd, 2025, D’Tigress would be in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire to compete for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket and Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league Conference finals would also hold.

FIBA Men’s Afrobasket 2025, also holds 12th-24th August in Luanda, Angola, there would be also, the NBBF Men’s Premier league Conference finals and the FIBA African U16 championship (Boys & Girls)

September, 2025, begins with finals of State preliminaries for Total National Division 2 championship; also in the month, there would be the NBBF Men’s Basketball League Final 8; Zenith Bank National Division 1, female national league eliminations.

In October 2025, the NBBF Board Meeting would hold and also the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league finals. There shall be also the 1st Phase of BAL Qualifiers and FIBA Africa 3 AWBL Qualifiers.

November-December, 2025, begins with the Total National Divisions 1&2 league Divisional playoffs; knockout phase of the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup. And then in December, 2025, we shall have the Total National Division 2 Conference playoffs; Elite 16 BAL Qualifiers 2025; FIBA AWBL 2025 finals; Total National Division 1&2 league finals; the NBBF AGM and Awards Night and lastly, the NBBF Board Meeting.

• The 2025 President Beach Volleyball for Men and Women/Under 17 Boys and Girls will be holding from February 16 to 23.

This was gathered from a letter drafted by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), addressed to all Director of Sports/Clubs Chairmen/
General Managers/Military and Para-Military.

According to the letter signed by the Secretary-General of NVBF, Mrs. Aliyu-Abass Wasilat, dated January 29, 2025.

It informed that the President Beach Volleyball will be held at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Kaduna State (ABS), from
February 16 to 22.

It informed that February, 16 will be arrival date for participating teams, while the Technical Meeting/Competition Holds from 17th to 22nd.

According to the letter, participating teams are expected to depart on February, 23.

The latter added, “In view of the above, States, organizations and Clubs are encouraged to prepare for this upcoming event and their cooperation is highly solicited to ensure the success of
this competition.

“It is mandatory for each Team to come with an accompany referee per team for Male and Female and also be responsible for their logistics. Participating teams will be responsible for their accommodation.

“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept the assurances and highest sporting regards of the NVBF President,” it said

The annual event is being sponsored by NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod.

The University of Jos, Plateau State, will host the upcoming Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) championship, which will mark rugby’s historic debut as a medal-winning sport.

This represents a significant milestone for rugby, which has become an essential part of the games’ sports program due to the core values it promotes, including character building, respect, discipline, teamwork, integrity, and sportsmanship.

The sport’s growth has been further fueled by the participation of Nigeria’s national teams in various international tournaments. In recent years, rugby has witnessed a surge in interest and development, especially among young athletes and educational institutions.

The inclusion of rugby in the NUGA Games is credited to the relentless efforts of two key figures: Prof. Musa Garba Yakasai, Chairman of the Technical Committee for the NUGA Games, and Prof. Joseph Awoyinfa, Chairman of NUGA Rugby.

Both professors worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that rugby not only debuted at the games but also earned its place as a medal-scoring event, further cementing its significance within the Nigerian sports landscape.

Speaking on this groundbreaking development, the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are, commended the professors for their dedication and vision. He expressed optimism that this inclusion would have a far-reaching impact on the sport’s development in the country, particularly among the youth.

“I am delighted with the tireless efforts of those who made this possible,” Dr. Are stated. “This decision sends a strong message to universities that rugby must become a major part of their sports programs. It also sets the stage for the inclusion of rugby in future national events, such as the National Sports Festival, where its absence has been keenly felt.”

Dr. Are further emphasized that the debut of rugby at the NUGA Games will serve as a springboard to promote the sport’s growth across Nigerian universities, ensuring that it becomes a staple in youth sports development programs nationwide.

As preparations for the NUGA Games continue, the inclusion of rugby 7s is expected to bring excitement and a new level of competition to the event, while providing a platform for young talents to showcase their skills on a national stage.