Joel Ajayi
The Chairman of the FCT Basketball Caretaker Committee, His Royal Highness Eze Ifeanyi Eke, has described the successful conclusion of the three-day Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) Referees and Technical Officials Clinic on Saturday in Abuja as a landmark achievement in the development of basketball officiating in Nigeria.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Eke said the initiative marked the beginning of a deliberate effort to produce a new generation of referees capable of sustaining the growth of the game as many of the country’s current officials approach retirement.
According to him, the basketball community has become increasingly concerned about the ageing population of referees and coaches, making it imperative to groom younger officials.
“Today, history has been made. We are now getting a new crop of referees. The referees we currently have are ageing, and that has been a concern for us. Just as we need younger coaches, we also need younger referees to sustain the game,” he said.
He disclosed that following the referees’ clinic, attention would shift to coaching development through specialised clinics aimed at producing the next generation of basketball coaches.
“We have benefited from coaching clinics facilitated by international experts, and we intend to continue building capacity to strengthen basketball development across the country,” he added.
Eke noted that the programme attracted participants from different parts of Nigeria, reflecting the growing interest in basketball officiating and technical development. He said states including Kano, Kogi, Enugu and Benue were represented, alongside participants from all geopolitical zones.
“This is one of the reasons I am excited. Almost every part of the basketball family is represented here. It demonstrates our collective commitment to developing the game,” he said.
The FCT basketball chairman commended the founder of the Amateur Basketball Academies, Prof. DC Lucky Abubakar, for initiating the programme, while also paying tribute to veteran basketball coach Emmanuel Odah, whom he described as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished basketball coaches with a proven record of producing internationally recognised players and Olympians.
In his remarks, Prof. Abubakar reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots basketball development, describing the Dream Alive Initiative as a long-term investment in young players, referees and technical officials across the country.
He said the initiative was created to provide career opportunities for young people in basketball officiating, stressing that refereeing should no longer be seen as a role reserved for retired players.
“The media has always been our voice. You have made basketball visible, and I sincerely appreciate your support,” Abubakar said.
“I love basketball, and many talented young people have been neglected. Officiating is not a retirement job. We want young people who watch and understand the game to become referees. This is their dream, and we are here to support them.”
Abubakar explained that the programme would gradually expand from the political zones to states and local government areas to ensure wider participation and grassroots impact.
“Our vision is to make basketball thrive alongside football by taking the game to every community,” he said.
On sustainability, he expressed confidence that the private sector would eventually embrace the initiative as its impact becomes evident. Borrowing from the National Sports Commission’s philosophy of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation, he said the programme was designed to endure.
He also revealed plans to renovate selected basketball courts across the country, noting that assessments of existing facilities were already underway to identify safe and accessible venues for youth development.
Commenting on the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Abubakar dismissed suggestions of a crisis within the federation and urged stakeholders to remain united ahead of the expiration of the current board’s tenure later this year.
“We have major competitions ahead of us, and this is not the time to divide the basketball family. Our focus should remain on developing the game and creating opportunities for the next generation,” he said.
This version is concise, balanced, and written in a professional newspaper style at approximately 550 words.
Tagged “Dream Alive,” the Basketball Referees Clinic targeted boys and girls between the ages of 17 and 25 who are currently in school. The initiative was designed to develop a new generation of basketball officials equipped to meet modern international officiating standards, while providing young people with the opportunity to pursue rewarding careers as basketball referees.
More than 25 participants drawn from various basketball academies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kano State took part in the three-day clinic. At the end of the programme, successful participants were presented with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the training.
