By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has charged the newly elected executive committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to prioritise unity, inclusiveness and a clear vision for the development of basketball in Nigeria.
Olopade gave the charge on Thursday at the NBBF Elective Congress in Abuja, warning that persistent disagreements and internal divisions could undermine the growth of the sport.
He urged the new leadership to adopt a different approach from the previous two administrations by promoting harmony, mutual respect and collective commitment to the advancement of Nigerian basketball.
“The Nigeria Basketball Federation must continue to operate as one family. Wherever there is acrimony, progress is often sacrificed, and that is not what we want for Nigerian basketball,” he said.
The NSC boss described basketball as a major sport in Nigeria, stressing that its importance required responsible leadership and cooperation among stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.
Olopade also expressed disappointment over the absence of retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu at the congress, insisting that his standing in international sports administration warranted an invitation.
He said the NSC recognised Ahmedu as Nigeria’s highest-ranking international basketball administrator and argued that his presence would have enhanced the credibility of the gathering.
“I had earlier written that, even without FIBA’s correspondence, the National Sports Commission recognizes him as the country’s highest-ranking international sports administrator and that he should have been invited to this meeting,” Olopade said.
He emphasized that an all-inclusive approach was essential to building confidence in the federation’s leadership, particularly amid concerns surrounding the electoral process and calls for transparency and compliance with the federation’s regulations.
According to him, peaceful administration of the sport requires the involvement of relevant stakeholders, warning that excluding key figures could weaken efforts to unite the basketball community.
Olopade expressed hope that the new executive committee would move beyond internal disagreements and work towards a common goal of strengthening Nigerian basketball.
He urged the leadership to foster an atmosphere of unity, love and clarity of purpose, noting that the future of the sport depended on the willingness of stakeholders to work together.
