Afrobasket: Hon Ekene Adams celebrates D’Tigress historic win

 

Chairman House Committee on Sports Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams has congratulated Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress for winning the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship for the fourth consecutive time in a row.

The Rena Wakama- led D’Tigress proved their dominance in the women's basket after edging 11-time African champions, Senegal 84-74 to claim their sixth championship at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.

Saturday's trump, means D’Tigress will compete for a spot at the women’s basketball event of the 2024 Olympics.

Adams, a member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Kaduna State in the 10th House of Representatives; could not hide his delight after the feat.

"Congratulations to our women's Basketball team- D’Tigress and the entire backroom staff. The team has showed their dominance in the sport in Africa, and they showed the Nigeria never-say-die attitude going unbeaten in Kigali.

"The team showcased their talent to Africans and the world as they kept fans seated on their edge of their seats with quality basketball skills all their games at the BK Arena.

"Rena Wakama have also made Nigerian women proud, as she was the was the only female coach at the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship and she did better what any man can do at the event.

"Kudos to the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) on the choice of Wakama, as its has now proven to be well-thought-out as she brought her wealth of experience, having previously represented Nigeria as a national team player.

"Am pouring praise on Amy Okonkwo too, as was a star, having played a huge role in helping Nigeria clinch the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket, and, as a result, the 26-year-old was named the TISSOT MVP of the tournament.

"Recall, throughout Nigeria's unbeaten run (5-0) in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Okonkwo was the heart -and-soul of the D'Tigresses, averaging a team-high of 17.2 points while contributing 8.2 rebounds per game.

"Along the way, Okonkwo became the only Nigeria to register two double-doubles (Murjanatu Musa registered one).

"A heroic welcome awaits them, as I, my House Committee on Sports memeber and well-meaning Nigerians will be at the airport to welcome them."

Saturday's trump, means D’Tigress will compete for a spot at the women’s basketball event of the 2024 Olympics.

Kida becomes member of Borno State Advisory Committee on Governance

 

Borno state Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has announced the appointment of NBBF President, Eng Ahmadu Musa Kida ,as a member of Borno State Advisory Committee On Governance and Development. 

Announcing this at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Governor said the appointment of Musa Kida,who is also a Non-executive Director of the TotalEnergies, into the government advisory committee will enhance the quality of governance and speedy development in the state. 

Kida who recently bagged the Boston(USA) Consulting Group( BCG) team, West Africa, as an advisor, was the deputy managing director, Deep Water Services at TotalEnergies, Nigeria where amongst other accomplishments, he delivered the Egina Field Project, which achieved First Oil at the end of 2018, and was able to achieve peak oil production of 200,000 barrels per day, before his retirement after 35 years of meritorious service in the organization. 

Since stepping aside from his role as DMD, Musa Kida has maintained his commitment to contributing to local knowledge across the Nigerian energy space and currently serves as Non-Executive Director at both Heirs Oil and Gas and TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited.

Musa Kida is a civil engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University with a post-graduate diploma in Petroleum Engineering from Institut Francaise du Petrole (IFP), France.

These spades of appointments are a recognition of the hard work and dedication to assigned tasks, which also includes his recent appointment as Chairman of Ponticelli Nigeria Limited.

Glory Girls of Otukpo claim inaugural BBA U-18 Women's Tourney

 

The 2022 Benue State Basketball Association U-18 Female Tournament ended yesterday at the Aper Stadium Makurdi. In the last game of the Tournament, Gboko Volunteers defeated Glory Girls of Otukpo 38-37. However since the Tournament was played on a double round robin format, Glory Girls emerge overall Champions having beaten the Volunteers by 4 points, 32 - 28 in their first meeting. 

The  Final game was full of thrills and suspense all through. Having won in the first encounter, Glory Girls had their pride to protect while Gboko Volunteers looked for an opportunity to seek revenge. It was a jostling game for both teams with Glory Girls enjoying the dominant lead. 

The dogged Gboko girls fought hard and tied the game at the 4th Quarter with 1:37 minutes to go. Glory Girls again picked a two point lead with 27  seconds left, but Sewuese,  star player of the Volunteers intercepted a pass  to tie the game. Glory girls had an opportunity to take a two point lead  again from the freethrow line but Janet who was on the line missed one shot. 

It was Sewuese  who showed she was a clutch player once more. With 7 seconds left in the game she drew contact on a lay up which sent her to the free throw line where she made both shots that won the game for the Gboko Volunteers. Game ended Gboko Volunteers 38, Glory Girls, 37. 

There was high drama at the end when the Glory Girls all broke down crying because they thought by their loss  they had lost the Tournament Trophy. Their consolation and redemption only came when they were announced as Winners based on the Head to Head Classification having tied on points with their fierce rivals. 

The Vice Chairman of the BBA, Mr Kelvin Kpum, conveyed the Association's appreciation to all the participants and officials'  with a promise that the State will continue with such developmental programmes. The Director,  Benue Sports Council, Mr. Philip Nongu, accompanied by many dignitaries and Stakeholders in the State,  commended the State Association for their effort in revitalizing the Sports in the State. 

A trophy was presented to the Champions , Glory Girls and cash prize for the MVP,  Sewuese of Gboko Volunteers. 

Final Table of the Tournament:

*1st - Glory Girls -P6, W5, L1, Pts 11( 1st on Head to Head Rule) 

* 2nd -Volunteers - P6, W5, L1,Pts 11( 2nd on Head to Head Rule).

*3rd- Sparks.       - P6, W2, L4, Pts 8. 

* 4th - Titans -      - P6, W0, L6, Pts 6.

US based Consulting Group Appoints Kida as Advisor

 

Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global strategy management consulting firm, has announced the addition of Ahmadu Musa Kida as senior advisor, to its West African team.

Prior to joining the BCG team, Musa Kida was the deputy managing director, Deep Water Services at TotalEnergies, Nigeria where amongst other accomplishments, he delivered the Egina Field Project, which achieved First Oil at the end of 2018, and was able to achieve peak oil production of 200,000 barrels per day. 

Since stepping aside from his role as DMD, Musa Kida has maintained his commitment to contributing to local knowledge across the Nigerian energy space and currently serves as Non-Executive Director at both Heirs Oil and Gas and TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited.

Musa Kida is a civil engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University with a post-graduate diploma in Petroleum Engineering from Institut Francaise du Petrole (IFP), France.

Commenting on his appointment, Musa Kida said, “I am delighted to be a part of the BCG West Africa Team. BCG has over the years contributed to Africa’s development and I am excited to be a part of the team. I look forward to accomplishing more feats with the team while sharing my knowledge base and deep expertise acquired over these years" he said. 

Tolu Oyekan, managing director and partner, BCG (West Africa), and head of BCG Nigeria said: “We are thrilled to welcome Musa Kida to the leadership team of our West African office. His wealth of experience will undoubtedly contribute to BCG’s ambitions to advance Africa and the world on various topics including sustainability and energy transition.”

Oyekan, who is also a skilled management consultant with global experience across several sectors including; finance, manufacturing, and energy, stated that the arrival of Musa Kida will expand leadership capacity and increase BCG’s ability to serve as the advisor-of-choice, to senior leaders across the region.

The BCG West African operations is based in Lagos, Nigeria, with diverse professionals who are passionate about unlocking Africa’s potential. These professionals with different backgrounds are dedicated to delivering integrated solutions through cutting-edge management consulting for social, public, and private sector organisations across West Africa and beyond.

Basketball: Kida scores his NBBF leadership high

 

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida has scored his administration high, despite all the challenges faced. 

Kida who presented the  Score Card of some of his achievements to the stakeholders at the Extraordinary Congress held in Abuja at the weekend, said as a Board since he was elected as the NBBF President in 2017, including his tenure as Chairman of the Caretaker Committee from July 2021, that Nigeria’s Women has participated in and won 3 Women Afrobasket Competitions in Mali, Senegal and most recently Cameroon (2017, 2019 & 2021 respectively). "In basketball parlance we call these feats a “Three Peat “or “Back -to -Back -to Back”.  Winning this Tournaments enabled Nigeria to participate in the 2018 FIBA Women World Cup, in Tenerife, Spain, the 2020 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. At the 2018 Women World Cup in Spain, Nigeria set an African record reaching the Quarterfinals, the first by an African Women Team in World Basketball history. Our D’Tigress beat Turkey, Argentina, and Greece before falling to Team USA in the Quarter Finals after a close first half". 

 

" Nigeria’s Men had participated in the 2017 Men’s Afro Basket after just 2 weeks of Camping and won silver medal, beating highly rated teams like Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon, and Senegal, after just two weeks camping. We also participated in the 2019 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers and after 4 rounds of matches became the 1st country across the globe to qualify for the World Cup in China. Nigeria hosted 2 of the 4 World Cup Windows and it is gratifying that as a result of this Nigerians saw topflight international Basketball and our Nigerian Stars playing at home after a long time. The extra incentive is that our Men’s Team used the opportunity of the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, for which our National Team also qualified as No. 1 in the Africa, as our route to qualifying directly for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the process, Nigeria beat teams like North Korea, Cote D’Ivoire and the mighty Chinese Team before their home fans to pick an Olympic ticket as Africa’s sole representative at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.  It is also instructive to add that Nigeria was among the few select countries whose Male and Female Teams both qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The others been Australia, France, USA and host Japan.  This is another record in the anals of African Basketball" 

Kida said "at the 3x3 level which is the new wave in basketball, we participated in many tournaments across the globe and these include Tornoi Salamatou Maiga 3x3 Tournament, an U 18 for Boys and Girls Tournament in Mali, in September, 2017 and 2018, as well as the African Youth Games in Algeria 2018, where our National U18 Boys & Girls Teams both placed 2nd  respectively. We also participated in the African Beach Games in Cape Verde in 2019. Our Senior Men and Women 3x3 Teams are amongst the highest ranked teams in Africa.  Of particular note is the fact that our Men were African Champions in 2017 and have participated in the 2018 World Cup in Manila, Philippines, while our Women and Men’s Team won Gold and Bronze Medals respectively at the All-Africa Games in Morocco in Rabat, 2019.   Our participation in these 3x3 competitions with the desired impact is an indication of the interest of the NBBF under my leadership to develop youth basketball in Nigeria. It is not a surprise therefore that FIBA considers Nigeria as the hotbed of 3x3 Basketball in Africa based on the popularity of the event in Nigeria and the support FIBA 3x3 Department receives from Nigeria. With absolute pride, I wish to state that Nigeria led by well committed 3 x 3 afficionados continues to spearhead the development of 3x3 in Nigeria and FIBA Africa Zone III.  

 We did organize successfully, a series of courses for our Technical Officials between 2017 and date. These include the FIBA Statisticians Certification Course in conjunction with FIBA in October, 2017. The last time Nigeria had held such a Programme before then was in 2003, thus underscoring our commitment to training of our Technical officials. One (1)Technical Delegate,  five (5) Technical Commissioners and  Nine (9) Referees  recently undertook FIBA organized web examinations in order to renew /obtain their  respective FIBA licenses.  I am pleased to announce that through the effort of the NBBF to uplift our Technical Officials, Nigeria now has one Female FIBA graded Referee in Yahaya Fatima Ibrahim along with the crop of male referees we have in our midst. And it is not a surprise therefore, that referee Kingsley Ojeaburu of Nigeria officiated at the 2021 Afro Basket Qualifiers (First Window) in Kigali, Rwanda, 2021 FIBA U-19 World Championship, in Latvia, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, in Tokyo, Japan  and the 2021 Afrobasket for Men in Kigali, Rwanda, while Opeyemi Ogunleye officiated at the  2021 Afrobasket Women Tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon. In the same vein, Col Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), a FIBA Technical Delegate was invited to preside as a TD at the 2021 Afro Basketball Qualifiers (First Window) in Rwanda and the 2021 Afrobasket Women Tournament, in Yaoundé, Cameroon".

He said that, the NBBF also organized successfully, the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Champions Cup Qualifiers in October 2017, in Lagos, for the first time in as much as nearly a decade.  This is part of the goals set by Board to host as many Worlds, Zonal and Sub Zone FIBA competitions as possible.

" Also, our Nigerian Club sides, male and female, also continue to perform creditably in continental competitions. First Bank won back-to-Back bronze medals at the FIBA Women Champions Club Final Rounds in 2017 and 2018, while Defenders of Abuja and Rivers Hoopers of Port Harcourt qualified for the Elite 8 and Group Stage of the inaugural FIBA Afro League Competition, respectively. Rivers Hoopers also represented Nigeria at the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL), organized by FIBA and sponsored by the NBA in Kigali, Rwanda, in June 2021"    

" Let me also add that our Sponsorship portfolio took some hit occasioned by  area. We have maintained sponsors like Zenith Bank and secured sponsorship for our National Divisions 1/2 Men's Leagues from Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. The Sponsorship which ran for an initial two years have been extended by another 5 years by the Sponsor.  This represents the first time in the history of Nigerian basketball that our Federation is having a sponsor for any lower tier of the Nigerian League.  The new Division 2 League format provides for 74 teams who compete at the State level, leading up to the Divisional, Conference and National Finals. Also, lots of sponsors which included GTB committed support to the World Cup Qualifying programmes that assisted the NBBF in hosting the World Cup Qualifiers in Lagos"

"There are lots more accolades to mention which include, proper Camping and training for our National Teams players in Europe and the USA which has enabled the Teams to perform well. Victories over the USA Men’s and the Argentinian National Teams with their array of top-class players in Las Vegas, USA/ Pre -Olympic Games Tournament was not a fluke. In the same vein, the D’Tigres beat teams like Serbia, Belgium and Puerto Rico in their warmup matches undertaken across Europe before the Tokyo Olympic Game this past summer. The effect is that Nigeria is no longer considered minnows in World Basketball and our FIBA Ranking has improved with effect. The country should indeed be proud of our players for these humble achievements" Kida concluded

NBBF Elective Congress now to hold October 30 in Benin

 

The Congress of the Nigeria Basketball Federation has approved Saturday, 30^th of October for elections into the Executive board of the federation.

At its extraordinary congress held on Saturday, 9^th of October in Abuja, the congress ratified Benin as the host city while also adopting the proposed Electoral Committee to be chaired by Dr. Lanre Glover.

Glover will be deputized by Alh. Mohammed Sani Fema with Dr. Femi Olugbile, Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi as members while Emmanuel Okibe will act as Secretary of the committee.

With all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory Basketball Chairmen and Secretaries in attendance, the congress also approved the appointment of Mrs. Ize Matebese as Chairman of the 2021 NBBF Electoral Appeals Committee alongside General David Lubo (rtd.)  (Member) and Emmanuel Zira as Secretary.

At the congress chaired by the Caretaker Chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr Musa Kida, all stakeholders were requested to submit any observations for addition or amendment to the constitution for process according the Article 38 of NBBF approved Constitution.

This was unanimously agreed as part of the ongoing process to amend the constitutions which was described as a continuous exercise as enshrined in the constitution.

In attendance was the Honourable Minister of Sports, Chief Sunday Dare who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ismaila Abubakar who was also present in his own personal capacity.

Engr. Ishaku Tikon represented the Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Engr Habu Gumel, Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye, Acting Director (FEAD) was also on ground alongside Prof. Florence Adeyanju, Member, Caretaker Committee, NBBF.

NBBF Elections: 'Nigerian basketball is bigger than any individual - Musa Kida

 

Chairman Caretaker Committee of Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF Engr. Musa Kida has revealed that the game of basketball in Nigeria is bigger than any individual.

He reiterated that NBBF have constitution approved by the FIBA and only thing that can change it is Congress, which is ultimate body of NBBF

He stated this in Abuja on Wednesday shortly after the major stakeholders  meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development. 

Kida said that survival of basketball supercedes any personal interest.

According to him, this meeting was called at the instance of the Honourable Minister to get the various stakeholders on the same table to find ways which Basketball will have a rancor free elections and more importantly to him, assure the development of Basketball in Nigeria.

"What we came for was for the interest of Basketball and for the interest of all the stakeholders coming together to make Basketball work in Nigeria, and also conform with a larger picture that Basketball is bigger than individual" . 

Continuing, Kida said "The result of it has been that there is a contention of whether the constitution would be used or not, based on the advice that the Honourable Minister has gotten from the NOC and and his legal team which he agreed to" .

"The constitution of NBBF is an approved constitution by FIBA, and it has been read at the floor of the congress. The NBBF does have a constitution, that is going to be the major document going forward. 

"They also recommended that there are some parties who showed some worried over certain issues in the constitution and the Ministry believed this can be corrected quickly if they so agreed by the congress of NBBF which is sole approving body."

"Everyone was told to lodge whatever they believed is their complain, and there will be a 21 days of consultations and they will allow the NBBF congress to come and deliberate on those clauses, after which the NBBF elections will then be organized. This is a very sane way of taking a lot of people along in the development of the game in the country". 

"Nigeria Basketball is much bigger than Musa Kida. I know I'm a stakeholder in this matter, when you talk about the present tense of Basketball, I will be counted among. But what I do think is bigger than Musa Kida. Basketball in Nigeria is bigger than Musa Kida, and Musa Kida must not be seen as a road block to such a very noble initiative to get all basketball families together, this will make our constitution good and everyone will do his job better. I will say that the greatest achievement is that we have a constitution and secondly that the constitution will be used to amend those things that needs to be improved upon. That will be the interest of Musa Kida as the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the NBBF " he concluded.

Sports Minister Extols Leadership Qualities of Musa Kida

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Monday extolled the leadership qualities of NBBF Caretaker Chairman Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida, describing him a passionate lover of basketball leading to his land breaking achievements in the Federation within the last four years. 

The Minister who spoke at victory party organized for  the senior national women basketball  team D'Tigress at the Afrobasketball Championship in Cameroon.

 He said the qualities of Engr Musa Kida will further be needed to place the sport in an enviable position worldwide. That winning three trophies in four years is a commendable feat. 

Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Mali on Sunday to emerge African Champions for the third consecutive time, affirming their position as the African queens of the court. 

Speaking further, the Minister who described the victory of the D'Tigeress as an Independence gift to the country,  appreciated and congratulated the team and the entire Nigeria Basketball Federation(NBBF)family under the leadership of Engineer Musa Kida for their feat.

"You have their story, you have their history and you have their journey so far," Sunday Dare opened up to the gathering, "The journey actually took them to the Olympics. Even after the Olympics. The ladies dusted themselves up and they showed that fire in Cameroon.

"I want to congratulate them for winning the Afrobasketball trophy and that is gold, you can see the Golden Cup here for third consecutive time.

"They have shown a rare dominance, the dominance of the women basketball terrain by D'Tigress from the African continent, I can say it's now undisputable. We have seen how they are also blending the home based players with the foreign players that is the DNA of our Sports as a country whether it is basketball or football, that blend always works for us.

"I want to thank each and every player, those that went to the Olympics, those that went to Senegal and those that went to Cameroon, that entire team has always done this country proud and I know that they have more victories ahead of them.

"I also thank them for putting Nigeria on the global map of basketball, the same goes to D'Tigers. I can now say that Nigeria is truly a basketball nation.

"We are happy that this is also a benefitting present to Mr President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire country as we are about to celebrate the 61st Independence Day Anniversary." Dare concluded.

Sports Minister hails unstoppable D'Tigress for Afrobasket triumph

Sunday Dare, the Youth and Sports Development Minister has poured encomiums on Nigeria's senior women basketball team- D'Tigress for their victory at the 2021 Afrobasketball championships in Cameroon.

The Nigerian ladies, now African queens of the court, captured their third consecutive Afrobasketball championships title on Sunday after beating Mali by 70-59 in the final.

The performance of D'Tigress was so dominant all through the championships that many bookmakers had tipped them to retained their crown even before today's final.

An elated Sports Minister Sunday Dare said Nigeria's victory is confirmation of her dominance of the sport in Africa.

"Clearly now Nigeria's dominance of the sport is indisputable. This is the evidence that Nigeria's women basketball can be ranked as a World class programme. We have to sustain this momentum. This is remarkable, winning the Afrobasketball Championships for an unprecedented third time.

"I salute the team(D'Tigress) for their professional commitment and execution. They have done the nation proud and maintained the positive results we have achieved in sports in the last few weeks." Dare said.

In the last ten weeks, Nigeria has had a lot to cheer in international sports competitions, winning nineteen medals from the Olympics, Paralympics and the World U20 Athletics Championships and now capturing gold for the third consecutive time in the Women Afrobasketball Championships.

NBBF Election: Kida commends Sunday Dare on truce initiative

 By Raymond Nwaduba 

Nigeria Basketball Federation caretaker committee chairman, Engr. Musa Kida has showered encomiums on the Minister of Sports & Youths Development, Chief Sunday Dare for his sincere and genuine efforts daily in trying to look for the best possible way in finding a lasting solution to the imbroglio within the basketball fraternity, which has thwarted the development of the sport.

Speaking at a press parley with newsmen at the Park Inn by Radisson Serviced Apartments in Victoria Island, Lagos, the NBBF boss was full of praises and appreciation for the yeoman’s job by the honourable minister to see that all warring factions sheathe their swords and reach a truce, which will usher in a conducive environment for an all-round sustainable growth in basketball in Nigeria.

“If there was no enabling environment, there is no way we could have performed our functions. There is no way we would have been able to do what we needed to do. There is no way we could have had the flexibility to do what we did in other for these results to come in the last couple of years.

“So on that note, we want to in all sincerity thank the Honourable minister of Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare, ‘Egba Akin’, who every day I can tell you, looks for the best way of setting the environment and encouraging the environment to be the best it can.

“We all know it’s not easy, that Africans and Nigerians expects that every match we play we should win. Of course, it is his responsibility to ensure we win; but it is also his responsibility to make sure that he allows us as administrators and create an enabling environment for us to do our jobs.

“So on that note, I want to sincerely thank him for his understanding, said and not said, and also for his encouragement, and his own ministry which we have had expert opinions coming from themselves, very tested people in the ministry.

‘Like I said before, we have always looked at the coin may be from different sides, but we have brought that discussions to the table in order for us to all collectively be able to move forward.

“Just like others, I will say that I am most grateful for your support, and we are begging still for your continued support in a way that will allow us to progress and develop the game of basketball in the country,” Kida concluded.

Recall, that the minister had called an Extra Ordinary Congress to try and settle all the differences that existed amongst both divides.

Afrobasket 2021: Sports Minister celebrates D'Tigress' final berth

Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare has congratulated Nigeria's senior women basketball team, D'Tigress for qualifying for the final of the 2021 Afrobasket women championship in  Cameroon.

D'Tigress defeated their Senegalese opponents 73-63 in Friday night's semifinals to book a place in their third consecutive finals.

The Youth and Sports Minister commended the team for their superlative performance in the tournament and praised them for doing the nation proud.

The Minister urged the team to crown what has been a remarkable tournament with  victory in the final so that their status as the 'Queens of the   Court' on the African continent  can be confirmed.

The defending champions will face Mali in the final after the Malians defeated the hosts  Cameroon 52-51 in the other semi final game.

NBPL: Excitement as Reformer edge Gboko City Chiefs

... Kano Pillars Cages Nigerian Army 79-40

It was joyous mood as the much-awaited Nigeria Men's Basketball Premier league,  finally kick-off in a grand style in both the Atlantic and Savannah conferences on Wednesday. 

The Savannah conference began in Abuja with the Reformer beating Gboko City Chiefs 74 - 63 in the first game of the game 

The games holding at the  Package B of the MKO Abuja stadium saw a lot of excitement. 

Basketball stakeholders who thronged the Stadium to watch the matches expressed excitement on  the return of the basketball league in the country. The bemoaned the state of the League which  had been in comatose for years as a result of court injunction that was recently trashed into dust-bin.

The games in Abuja though, suffered a little hiccups following the broken fiber glass attached to the rim inside the Indoor Sports Hall, but was rectified with the speedy  intervention of the Chairman Caretaker Committee of Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF Engr Musa Kida who ensured immediate repairs and commencement of the games .

In the first match, Reformer start the game on winning note defeating Gboko City Chiefs of Benue 74 - 63. 

Kano Pillars in the second game tamed the Nigerian Army 79- 40 in the second game.

Kida confirms interest to run for NBBF presidency again

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF, Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, has expressed his readiness to serve in the top position of Basketball in the country.

Kida made the declaration in Abuja, at a Press conference ahead of the 2021 Basketball Premier League seasons which dunks off simultaneously in the Atlantic and Savannah conferences.

"For me, what is important to go into the elections is for us to be able to make this programmes very sustainable. In my consultations, the last four years has been interesting. Basketball is a sport that Nigerians are expecting Nigeria to go out and win without excuses. So for me, we are on a good path. I am ready to serve in whatever capacity that I can in order to put these structures in place; so that Nigerian Basketball will be better."

Kida, also noted that position does not matter. "President or not, the most important thing is to sustain the legacy already achieved. I am ready to serve if the NBBF finds me fit" Kida said .

2020 Tokyo Olympics : Kida Lauds Sports Minister support

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Caretaker Committee Chairman Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida has expressed  appreciation to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare for the supportive role he played during the Tokyo Olympics  Games. 

 Engr Kida who spoke in Abuja said the Minister worked assiduously to ensure that the he lapses created on the Nigeria Basketball teams by the International Olympic Committee through the Nigeria Olympic Committee were corrected

"I commend the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Chief Sunday Dare on his role in ensuring that the Basketball teams have a full complement of their officials at the Olympics games in Tokyo ".

The NBBF boss said with the incident that happened at the Olympics, both the IOC and NOC can be accused of tactically sabotaged the efforts of the Nigeria Basketball teams from getting to the podium at the games. 

The Chairman further  described the wrong instruction given to the Nigeria Basketball Federation by the  International Olympic Committee through National Olympic Committee (NOC) before the event as assumed sabotage that became a cog in the wheel of acceleration of Nigeria  teams at the  2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.

 

According to him, "we were always entitled to a full complements of our officials  in the Games, but after our preparations, and getting to the Olympic proper, the NOC came with the a directive that we are only entitled to only 3 officials which included only two technical officials. 

" I was very sad to understand that they are only going to allow  three of our technical officials, instead of the eight or nine which we are already used to. This actually affected the team immensely and cost us the first two games". 

“We became more suspicious when the games began, we discovered  that other countries were carrying full complements of their coaches and officials, even countries that do no have as many athletes as we did". 

"From there, the players became demoralized no doubt, as they could not have their coaches that could be giving them  the needed technical talks. What NBBF did though, was to make sure that everybody was on ground. That hurt us so badly, no doubt about it."

"We interrogated the Basketball governing body FIBA who actually claimed ignorance on why such an instructions came from the IOC at the Olympics. It was the same situation for the men and the women teams " Kida stated 

 

Kida said, "seeing the situation on ground, the Minister rallied round to see that there were increase in the number of our officials for the teams". 

“The Minister really helped us in all out by ensuring that we had an increase in the number of officials, by then, we had lost the first two matches at the Olympics. 

It was through the efforts of the Minister that the camp was finalized without any issue . This was enough boost for us, we can't thank the Minister enough". 

“Nigerians should be proud of us, for us to go to the Olympics, there were many basketball nations that could not make it but as for Nigeria, both Men and Women teams participated, I take pride in that and I would like us to build on that, and want Nigerians to Commend the Minister for his support" Kida concluded.

Nigeria Basketball Premier League dunks off with fun fare

Finally, Nigeria’s men basketball league come alive once more after years of  comatose. 

The  Nigeria Basketball Premier league, is commencing in a grand style at the Nigeria capital city Abuja and the state of Sunshine, Akure in Ondo state today 8 September 2021. 

It could be recalled that a court case stopped the league over the years, but the February 2021 judgment quashed all the cases, a verdict many adjudged to be a victory for basketball in the country.

In the first game at the Savannah Conference, to be played at Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja, the Gombe Bull will lock horns with Defenders by 10: 00 am.

Nigeria Customs will play Benue Braves by 12:45noon. 

 Gboko City Chiefs will tackle Reformers by 2:45pm while the final game of the day will be between Nigerian Army and Kano Pillars by 4:45 pm. 

Also, 11 teams from the Atlantic conference which include Rivers Hoopers, Kwara Falcons, Raptors, Police Baton, Ondo Raiders, Islanders, Coal City, Impressions, CAMAC, Invaders and Lagos Warriors will slug it out at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Akure Township stadium.

Addressing Journalists in a media parley  in Abuja, the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the NBBF Engr. Musa Kida, said all things are in place to have a better 2021 Nigeria Basketball Premier League.

According to him, all hands are on deck to commence the Basketball Premier League in both the Atlantic and Savannah conferences. 

“The Secretariat is responsible for dispatching letters to the various clubs and that is the reason why the League is starting in Abuja.”

Afrobasket: Emir of Kano Ado Bayero Cheers D'Tiger in Rwanda

As part of his love, passion for the game of Basketball in the country, the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Aminu Ado Bayero alongside members of the royal house was in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday to cheer the Nigeria's men basketball team, D'Tigers at the ongoing FIBA Afrobasket. 

The traditional ruler's presence at the stadium on Sunday showed an unwavering support and affection for the game of basketball in the country.

The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Ado Bayero a close friend of NBBF Caretaker Chairman Engr. Musa Kida, is an ardent follower and fan of the D’Tigers, went with his entourage to cheer the team.

However, the show of love by Emir revealed that Nigeria Basketball Federation, Caretaker Committee Chairman Engr. Musa Kida is living up to expectations and has all it take to take game of Basketball to the next levels in the country .

Though, the team lost the game 68-77pts to Côte d’Ivoire in their last group C game after winning the two previous games.

All hope is not lost for a medal finish as the team led by Coach Brown is eager to see how they can bounce back from this minor setback.

Kwara Basketball Association to train 150 kids at Summer Clinic

 

About one hundred and fifty (150) kids are expected to attend the basketball summer clinic organized by the Kwara State Basketball Association.

Beginning from the 23rd to the 28th August 2021, Coaches, referees and technical officials will converge at the outdoor court of the Kwara state stadium complex, ilorin for the five days event.

According to the working committee of the state basketball association, Bolaji Lawal disclosed the clinic is meant to teach and train kids on the rudiment of the game and as well laid a foundation for grassroots development.

It added that registration  is free while certificates have also been earmarked for all participants that falls within the age bracket 9-15.

The Basketball summer clinic program will feature morning and evening session daily including music, funfare and other side attractions.

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Bolaji Lawal

Kwara State Basketball Association

Kida hails support from foundations to grow Basketball in Nigeria

 

The Chairman of  the Nigeria Basketball Federation Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, has commended the efforts of the various basketball foundations for organizing different basketball programmes in the country.

Kida, who was the Guest of the FCT Football Updates virtual Personality Interview Segment applauded the Adamu Yola and Jordan Nworah Foundation for organizing clinics in various parts of the country. 

Kida said the Federation under his leadership supported such foundations by giving them enabling environment, technical and administrative support in ensuring the programs succeed.

He said that though the Federation did not come out to sponsor one in a practical way,  because of paucity of funds, but all such programmes  needed all the supports in conformity with the set standards and objectives were supported. 

Kida boasted that his efforts as the Chairman of Rivers State Basketball Association has seen the consistently winning the gold in three National Sports Festivals, "this didn't come by accident for winning gold in the both male and female events, but by having a youth programme that we encouraged. We  have a few academies and foundations that we were operating especially the AMK Foundation which is my Foundation and reputed for been the very first in  development of the game in West Africa."

Kida gives date for new Basketball Premier League

 

Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, has commended his Board at the Basketball Federation, while expressing optimism that the Nigeria Basketball Premier League will return to action in September .

Kida, who dropped the hint while answering questions as the Guest on the FCT Football Update Personality Interview Segment said they are working very hard to ensure that the League returns in September. He said that the Federation will pull its resources together to ensure the commencement of the League while establishing contacts with identified sponsors, many of whom got fatigued due to the past  unfolding events in the Federation. 

"we are very determined that we are going to have a Premier League competition this year. So I am really very happy to announce to you that  we have already written letters to the clubs, and in that light, despite the fact that we don't have a sponsor yet , we are going  to dig into personal means in terms of hosting the Premier League for this year, starting with the conference eliminations on September 7. By beginning of October,  we'll be able to conclude with the finals in Lagos. With that we'll be able to have a league champion that can represent Nigeria, in the continental FIBA Africa, tournament."

Speaking on the efforts made to improve basketball at the local level, Kida said: for the first time in the history of basketball in the country, we had a title sponsorship for the Divisions One and Two Leagues, which were religiously carried out every year. We had an initial sponsorship by Total for two years running, 2018/2019 following the achievements made by the Federation and then signed off for another five years, which is unprecedented. While noting that the Div Two could easily key into the youth programme of the Federation's Developmental programmes".

" For me, that's one of the huge achievements of the Federation  though it did not accessed the media visibility it deserves. The Federation have also conducted training for referees, table officials and games supervisors and maintained it regularly on its calendar and that has produced officials that can be relied upon without the need for officials from other countries for international tournaments. Clinics and Media seminars were also organized for our journalists on the best way to reporting the game of basketball". 

Kida insisted that in major international competitions like the Olympics and World Basketball Championship, every country appears with their best, and that there is nothing special if Nigeria attended such events with players based in diaspora "there is no mistake there, so there is nothing to correct. What  is there and I will also be very direct is that, at that level of play, what we want is for Nigeria to put its best foot forward. My quest as the NBBF president, is to look for the best Nigerians that I can find globally to represent Nigeria in the best way. 

My intention is to have the poll-up syndrome where the local based players will aspire to play above the Nigerian Premier League and play in the professional leagues in Europe and the NBA and hoping that in the next few years when we're able to develop, we would have a league within the country that would be compared with those abroad and we would retain all our athletes in the country." Kida said.

NBBF invites 20 for Commonwealth Games preparation

20 players have been invited by the Nigeria Basketball Federation for the first phase of camping ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.