Nigeria Basketball Federation Begins Re-Strategizing To Reposition Basketball

In a bid to sustain the recent successes recorded by the nation in basketball, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has started re-strategizing with the aim of making major actors and stakeholders, especially the staff of the federation key into the vision of transforming the game to an enviable height.

As a result, the NBBF in conjunction with BVS Professional Services,a multidisciplinary consulting firm based in Lagos, held a two-day brainstorming session in Abuja last Saturday and Sunday with federation members and staff, technical and youth committee member, national team coaches as well as technical officials of the game.

Among those who attended the sessions are coaches Sani Ahmed, Ayinla Johnson, Abdulrahaman Mohammed, Scott Nnaji, Adewunmi Aderemi, Tari Preh, Adeka Daudu, Ogoh Odaudu, Emmanuel Odah as well as president of the Nigerian Basketball Referees Council, Tunde Popoola.

Others are league management committee members Ajibarade Bello, Lawal Garba, Skambo Morrison as well as Obande Ogbole and Gbade Olatona, both statisticians and members of the youth development committee.

The consultants, led by Oluyemi Abaolu-Johnson took the stakeholders through the Strategic Planning Model which reappraised the current Nigerian basketball landscape and administrative structure and arrived at a new frontier with promising outcomes.

Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijjani Umar

Speaking at the session, NBBF president, Tijjani Umar stressed that the NBBF is embarking on capacity building for its staff to make them understand the vision of the board of making Nigerian basketball a reference point in Nigerian sports administration and therefore own and help drive it.

Lead consultant, Abaolu-Johnson stressed that his firm decided to partner with the NBBF because it saw that the federation has a strong leadership which needs an equally committed and resourceful staff to make basketball a strong brand that will attract sponsors to help take the game to the next level.

Lubomir KOTLEBA – FIBA Sports Director photo credit FIBA

Basketball’s world governing body, FIBA’s Special Advisor, Lubomir Kotleba whose visit to the NBBF coincided with the strategizing session commended the leadership of the federation, stressing that “I don’t have much to advise you on because you are already doing what I came here to advocate.”

Stressing that the consultants have already spelt out ways to make Nigerian basketball the super brand it could be,he advised that what each stakeholding unit needed to do was to demonstrate commitment in their various areas of specialization.

Nigeria Beats Egypt in Opening Game at FIBA Africa U16 Championship.

Nigeria’s team to the 2015 FIBA Africa U-16 Women Championship holding in Antananarivo, Madagascar yesterday beat Egypt 54-52 in their opening game.

Rita James lead all scorers with 19 pts, with Ene Adams adding 10pts and 13 rebs and Onome James- Akinbode clearing the boards with 10rebs in addition to 3pts as Nigeria came from a first quarter slump (9-20 pts) to rebound (11-6)(23-16)(11-10) in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters to overcome 3time Runners up Egypt in their opening game in the championship, this afternoon.

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF Tijjani Umar commended the team for the victory which he described as a good way to relaunch Nigeria into age-grade competition in Africa after a four- year self exile to sanitize the system.

Speaking with the head coach, Adeka Daudu on phone, Umar said, “it is a learning process and the players should use it very well. They should just remain focused and enjoy the game”.

He reiterated the position of the NBBF that the team is not taking part in the competition to win at all cost but to use it as a platform of getting future players of the senior team.

They are expected to play host Madagascar on Sunday, Zimbabwe on Monday and Morocco on Tuesday to round off the group games.

NBBF Activates Mentorship Programme, Invites Grassroots Coaches To Understudy Adeka Daudu

…..NBBF Invites grassroots coaches to Understudy Adeka Daudu.

As part of the drive to build structure and capacity to sustain its national youth programmes, the Nigerian Basketball Federation has invited 3 of the top women grassroots coaches to the national U16 woman camp headed by coach Adeka Daudu.

The list of invited coaches include 3 time winner, and current champion of the Nestlé Milo Secondary school championship with St Jude’s Girls College. Amarata, Bayelsa State, Coach Anthony Nelson, renowned women developmental grassroots coach Wilson ldanwekhai, who currently serves as head coach of Adolescent and Health Information Program (AHIP Queens) of Kano and coach Olawale Oyekan of the Lagos State Youth Alive Basketball community programme in Lagos.

This initiative is part of its mentorship programme launched by Basketball Federation in 2014 to help build the next generation of coaches that will take over from the likes of the vastly experienced Adeka Daudu and also give room for the coaches to grow alongside the athletes, so as to form an excellent bond and foster a relationship between the coaches and players from the youth level and provide a data base for monitoring the progress of the athletes from youth, intermediate and hopefully graduating to the senior national team level.

The coaches have joined the national U16 team current camping in Abuja ahead of the FIBA Africa U16 Women Championship in Madagascar from 10th-19th July, 2015.

Coach Adeka Daudu

U16 Women basketball team shines in Abuja…,

The U16 womens’ Basketball Team of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF defeated an Abuja selected side U22 female basketball team in a friendly game on Wednesday.

Abuja selected side dominated the game, before the U16 girls turned around and pulled back from 11-28 to win the last quarter with three points.
The game ended 51-54 in favour of the U16 basketball team.

An excited Ruth Omotayo Udueyin told NBBF Media after the game that they were able to pull back after discovering their mistakes;

“We did not follow the coach’s instruction on time, so the moment we discovered our mistakes after listening to the coach again, we put it to work and we won” she said

“The spirit is high everybody wants to be in camp and make the team, nobody wants to go home but no matter what, we are going to come out victorious” she added

However, Head coach of the team, Adeka Daudu gave the girls thumbs up after the game and revealed that, some will be dropped after tomorrow’s evening practice session.

The team is preparing for the final round of FIBA Africa U16 Women Championship in Madagascar from 10th-19th July, 2015.

NBBF Initiate Mentorship Programme For Grassroot coaches

The Nigerian Basketball Federation yesterday announced the institution of a mentorship programme for youth development coaches across the nation.

This is in view to harness all the diverse human resources and experienced hands in grassroot basketball development in Nigeria, so as to create a healthy relationship amongst these coaches dedicated to the developmental basketball, in order to build a long lasting structure for the national youth programme which is centered towards the junior national teams, as well as other independent developmental programmes to be sanctioned by the federation.

The programme which will take place in Abuja will have twelve (12) coaches present for its first phase. The 2day programme will start on Saturday 31st May, 2014. However, non DStv coaches are expected in arrive the capital city on the Friday 30th, May 2014. The invited coaches include:

1. Adeka Daudu – Dodan Warriors
2. Abdulrahman Muhammed – Gombe Bulls
3. Emmnauel Odah – FCT
4. Ogoh Odaudu – Royal Hoopers
5. Mike Akuboh – Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
6. Sani Tum – Kada Stars
7. Sanusi Shuaibu – Kano State
8. Peter Ahmedu – Mark Mentors
9. Spencer Chineh – Benue State
10. Tony Nelson – Bayelsa State
11. Babatunde Adelanwa – Ogun State
12. Mark Balogun – Nigerian Police

Oluwafemi Adefeso
FOR: NBBF MEDIA COMMITTEE