By Aderonke Ojo
One of Nigeria’s biggest basketball stakeholders, Igboche Mark, has applauded the recent strides in the country’s sports landscape, referencing the successful hosting of Continental African Association (CAA) tournaments and 1st West Africa para-sport events held in Abeokuta on Saturday.
Mark praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) for steering sports development in the right direction, noting that increased activities are giving Nigerian athletes much-needed platforms to grow and excel.
“I want to thank the Commission for the initiatives so far. We are seeing progress, and I look forward to more events that will give our athletes the exposure and experience they need,” he said.
Looking ahead to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections, Mark expressed hope that the Commission would ensure a transparent and credible process, stressing that Nigerian basketball requires a “total overhaul” to move forward.
He said new leadership is essential for the sport to experience meaningful growth.
Mark criticised the present state of the domestic basketball league, describing it as an “abridged league” that falls short of properly nurturing talent.
He argued that without a full, competitive league structure and strong grassroots programmes, Nigeria’s basketball potential will continue to be underutilised.
“If given the opportunity, my priority would be grassroots development, a structured talent adaptation system, and transparent administration,” he said.
According to him, a well-organized league supported by a robust grassroots foundation would strengthen domestic basketball and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness on the continental and global stage.
Mark’s remarks reflect growing calls from basketball stakeholders for comprehensive reform, particularly in governance, league structure, grassroots development, and talent identification.
The upcoming NBBF elections are widely viewed as a crucial turning point for the future of Nigerian basketball, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for reforms that will produce lasting opportunities for players and drive sustainable growth in the sport.