Grace Egila
Federal Government after a careful study of January 31, 2022 reports of the Nigeria Basketball Federation Elective Congress (NBBF), has approved the NBBF Elective Congress and outcome of its Board’s elections and has thus, inaugurated the newly elected Board members led by Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kida.
The Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare who inaugurated the NBBF Board at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, stated that the task of developing Basketball in Nigeria now lies squarely on the shoulders of the new Board.
The Director, of Press & Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, in a statement on Thursday, quoted the Minister saying:” By this inauguration, Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kida-led NBBF Board, will hereby and henceforth receive the recognition and support of the Federal Government for all its activities.
“I wish to reiterate that this Board is the only recognized one for the administration of Basketball in Nigeria.”
“Let me specifically congratulate all the elected members of the Board of the NBBF, who I am inaugurating today, and also stress that the future of Basketball for the next four years is now in your hands as posterity will judge you after four years on how you have positively or otherwise impacted on Basketball in Nigeria.”
According to the statement, Dare further said that the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development’s core mandates have focused on sports and youth development through the establishment of a conducive environment where the new National Sports Industry Policy will be implemented without hindrance.
He, therefore, reminded the new Board that Team work, understanding, and cooperation are sine qua non to achieving the Board’s goals and objectives.
The Minister noted that the Ministry as the government agency responsible for sports is a critical stakeholder in Basketball and will monitor very closely the activities of the Board to ensure that they are in sync with government national policy, government extant regulations, and the code of governance for National Sports Federations
The Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, in his opening remarks, urged the board members to use their wealth of experience to ensure the success of the federation.
He called on them to put aside what happened in the past, draw a line, and move forward for the national interest.
Also speaking, the President of, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Engr. Habu Gumel, in his goodwill message, called on the Board to ensure that the Male and Female Basketball Teams qualify for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.
Earlier in his speech, the NBBF President, Alh Musa Kida stated that “we as a Board are indeed very happy and grateful that the Ministry has acknowledged and approved the outcome of the NBBF Elective Congress which took place in Benin, Edo State on the 31st January 2022”
He added that the Federation recognizes the importance of the Ministry’s code of Governance for all Sports Federations as well as the 2019 NBBF Statutes, and as such, would ensure the amendment of the existing 2019 NBBF approved Statutes in line with stakeholders’ demands.
While assuring that the new Board will work assiduously towards uniting the Basketball family for greater development of the game, Alh. Kida restated the Federation’s commitment to the growth, development, and stability of Basketball in Nigeria.
