By Victor Okoye
The push for grassroots basketball development gained momentum with the unveiling of the maiden Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) tournament on Friday in Abuja.
Stakeholders, former players and administrators said the initiative would help discover and nurture young basketball talents through structured grassroots competitions nationwide.
Founder of the initiative, Lucky Abubakar, said no fewer than 20 academies would participate in the maiden Abuja Amateur Basketball Tournament in July.
Abubakar, a Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said the competition would feature boys and girls from academies within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the tournament was designed to revive community basketball and provide opportunities for young players to develop their talents and gain exposure.
According to him, the ABA initiative was established to identify and nurture untapped basketball talents across communities, schools and local courts.
“Today marks the beginning of a journey that will transform lives, reshape communities and elevate young talents to the global stage.
“There is enormous basketball talent in our communities, but many young athletes lack the structure, exposure and opportunities needed to reach their full potential,” Abubakar said.
He said the organisation would focus on talent discovery, nurturing, growth and development through structured grassroots programmes and regional academies.
“We are building a pathway from raw potential to refined excellence while preparing young athletes for international basketball opportunities,” he said.
He noted that the initiative would also promote discipline, leadership, teamwork and character development among young athletes beyond basketball.
“We are not only raising basketball players, but also responsible citizens, role models and future leaders of society,” Abubakar stated.
The initiative is expected to commence with a pilot edition in the FCT, with plans to expand the competition to other states in future editions.
The Chairman of the FCT Basketball Caretaker Committee, HRH Eze Ifeanyi Eke, stressed the need for sustained investment and partnerships in grassroots basketball development.
Eke reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the initiative, describing it as a strategic platform for basketball development at the grassroots.
“Basketball development has been on a slow trajectory in the country, but the ABA initiative represents a well-thought-out plan for grassroots growth,” Eke said.
“This has always been our aspiration as stakeholders, to take children off the streets and away from drugs through basketball and education,” he added.
He said the initiative would help nurture a new generation of youths grounded in academics, sportsmanship, discipline and moral values.
“The initiative by Lucky Abubakar and his team is highly commendable and has our full support in the FCT and beyond,” Eke said.
Eke noted that coaches and academies remained critical to player development and the long-term growth of basketball in Nigeria.
“Grassroots basketball development requires collective commitment from stakeholders, academies, coaches and the private sector,” he said.
“We must continue supporting coaches and young players because they are laying the foundation for the future of Nigerian basketball,” Eke added.
He commended coaches and academy owners for their dedication to mentoring young basketball talents within the FCT and beyond.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of trophies for winners in the male and female categories of the tournament.
The event attracted basketball stakeholders, academy owners and sports enthusiasts committed to grassroots sports development in Nigeria. (NAN)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
