IMC to organize Youth Basketball League

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare said the Ministry has concluded plans to commence a youth Basketball league and domestic league to help in nurturing home-based players.

He stated this on Saturday while inaugurating the Interim Management Committee, IMC of the Nigeria Basketball Federation at the Multi-Purpose Indoor Hall of the Package B of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Mr. Dare said the essence of the commencement of the league is to have a reservoir of players that will represent the country in international events.

He said it will also afford the players the opportunity of regular competitions at home which will help them get scholarships to Universities abroad and clubs that will improve their living standard.

His words, “Therefore, the Ministry has concluded plans to commence a youth Basketball league and domestic league to help in nurturing home-based players so that we will have a reservoir of players that will represent the country in international events. This will also afford our players the opportunity of regular competitions at home which will help them get scholarships to Universities abroad and clubs that will improve their living standard which will, in turn, have positive effects on the economy of the country.”

Meanwhile, the Minister said it became importance for the Ministry to set up the IMC to salvage the ugly situation and reverse the trend.

He however notified the everyone that no sports federation is bigger than the country’s sovereignty because the federations draw their legitimacy from Nigeria as a sovereign nation. “The supervisory powers of the Ministry of Youth and Sports stand. Therefore using the weapon of interference to remove from Government what the laws of Nigeria have

given is objectionable and unacceptable.

“At this juncture, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to inaugurate the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation as follows:

i. Dr. Henry Nzekwu – Chairman

ii. Mr. Udon Ubon Humapwa – Member

iii. Mr. Frank Jituboh – Member

iv. Zenith Bank Representative – Member

v. Prof. Adamu Ahmed – Member

vi. Mr. Peter Nelson – Member

vii. Grp. Captain Rahinatu Garba – Member

viii. Aderemi Adewunmi – Member

ix. Oluchi Nzekwe – Member

x. Seni Adio (SAN) – Member

According to him, the Terms of Reference of the Committee are to amongst others, draw up programmes that will revamp basketball from the grassroots, attract corporate sponsors and revive the moribund domestic leagues for the development of the game within 2 years, and ensure the development of Basketball facilities in the entire country, and any other thing that will facilitate the development of Basketball in Nigeria.