By Joel Ajayi
In a bid to enhance national security as well as strengthen civil-military relations and to inspire and empower Nigerian youth, the 2025 Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Democracy Day Basketball Championship—tagged the Under-18 Championship—is set to take center stage as a platform to inspire and nurture young basketball talents across the country.
The championship is scheduled to hold from June 13th to 18th, 2025, at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
A total of 16 teams—comprising 10 male and 6 female teams—drawn from various parts of the North Central zone will compete in the tournament. Participating teams include state teams from Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, and the FCT, as well as academy and club teams such as Apo Settlers, Gilali, Suba, TNT, M2, and N-Youth.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, retired Brigadier-General Aliyu Abdullahi, emphasized that the second edition of the Democracy Day Basketball Championship will have a positive and lasting impact on Nigerian youth.
He further noted that the 2025 edition, themed “Encouraging Grassroots Basketball Talents,” is aimed at discovering, nurturing, and promoting young talents for future success at both national and international levels.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, OFR, initiated the Democracy Day Basketball Championship as part of his non-kinetic strategy to enhance national security and strengthen civil-military relations through youth engagement.
Following the tremendous success of the inaugural edition, the CDS is organizing the second edition of the tournament to provide an even greater platform for young players. Recognizing the crucial role of Nigeria’s vibrant youth population in national development, this year’s edition underscores the importance of peace, unity, and inclusion.
As a gender-sensitive initiative, the championship gives equal opportunities to both male and female Under-18 teams to showcase their talents, demonstrate their skills, and compete for laurels.
“This event promises excitement, action, and fun, with medals awarded to both individuals and teams,” Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi stated. “It provides an excellent opportunity for young athletes to make new friends, bond with one another, share cultures, and compete in a peaceful atmosphere.”
He commended the CDS for creating a platform for youth to shine, and for entrusting him and the LOC with the responsibility to organize this impactful event.
To ensure transparency and fairness, National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be used to verify the eligibility of players and prevent age cheating.
In addition, the championship will be conducted in full compliance with FIBA rules, ensuring a professional standard of play throughout the competition.
However, the committee revealed that there be a lot of side attractions and at the end of competition the winner will receive award, prices and trophy.
