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By Silvernews Sports
Presidents of basketball associations in the North West have lauded the leadership of the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Musa Kida, for placing Nigerian basketball on the international map, while urging the incoming administration to sustain the momentum and strengthen grassroots development.
Speaking after the NBBF Extraordinary Congress in Yola, Adamawa State, the President of the Kaduna State Basketball Association, Ahmed Tijjani, who spoke on behalf of basketball stakeholders in the North West, described the congress as well-coordinated and called for continuity in the development of the game.
Tijjani said incoming leadership should pay special attention to young players by expanding basketball to schools and age-group competitions.
Our prayer is that the new management will take basketball to higher levels, especially to involve younger people, to distance them from vices and drugs and keep them off the streets,” he said.
According to him, basketball remains an important platform for youth development and talent discovery, stressing that greater investment in grassroots competitions would help produce more players for Nigeria’s national teams.
As a region, we want to bring basketball to all levels and all age groups so we can get these kids involved. We want to be able to produce players for the national team because, as it is now, we have to do more regarding tournaments and competitions,” Tijjani said.
She also called for greater participation of girls in basketball in the North West, saying school-level programs should accommodate both boys and girls while taking into account cultural and religious considerations.
We have to do more. That’s why we’re bringing basketball to school and school levels. It will definitely involve boys and girls, addressing cultural and religious concerns,” he added.
Kida put Nigerian basketball on the global map
Tijjani described Kida’s eight-year tenure as a significant period for Nigerian basketball, saying the outgoing NBBF president helped raise the profile of the sport internationally.
Engineer Musa Kida took Nigerian basketball to the international stage and put us on the map globally,” he said.
He urged the incoming president to build on the foundation laid by Kida and work with experienced stakeholders to further advance the sport.
I think the new president should try to do more and work with engineer Musa Kida to take basketball even further. We would all agree with me that engineer Musa Kida has made many sacrifices to bring basketball to where it is today,” he said.
During the NBBF elections, Tijjani urged all contestants to present their programs and manifestos directly to the delegates and explain their plans for the development of basketball.
“It’s time for the contestants to sell themselves to the delegates, tell them exactly what they want to do for basketball and present their manifestos,” he said.
He also advocated for stronger welfare arrangements for basketball veterans, including health insurance and other support programs, stressing that former administrators and stakeholders should continue to receive support after leaving active roles in the sport.
