Sports
Poor Funding Hampers Basketball Dev
Female basketball players in competition
The Nigeria Basketball
Federation (NBBF) has attributed the challenges facing the sport in the country to the failure of governments to meet their obligations to sports development.
NBBF’s Technical Commissioner, Ajibarede Bello, made the assertion in an interview with newsmen on Saturday, in Asaba, at the ongoing Zenith Bank Female Basketball League.
He said that over the years, basketball in Nigeria had suffered untold hardships due to poor funding and lack of facilities, a situation, he noted, had affected its development.
“It is saddening that governments have failed to meet their obligations to the development of basketball, and other sports which have kept us where we are today in the global sports.
“The development of facilities in the country has been stagnant. Sports development is big business and you cannot achieve success without adequate funding.
“Take for instance, only Dolphins of Port Harcourt among the teams playing in the league have standard training facilities.
“We should not forget that standard facilities are key to sports development,’’ he said.
Bello also lamented the welfare packages for players in the national league, stressing that due to lack of funding, many teams had failed to meet their obligations to players to encourage them.
He observed that many of the players in the league were not placed on salaries, adding that many of them struggled to acquire training kits and other personal effects needed for personal development.
“In terms of players’ development, we are lagging behind because what we have in the league today are just semi-professionals who do not have stable means of livelihood.
“There are no incentives to motivate the players.
“The governments need to step up funding to promote basketball because over the years, Nigeria has remained a basketball powerhouse in Africa.
“Only last year, we were crowned African champions,’’ Bello said.
On the standard of the ongoing tournament, the commissioner said that the federation was impressed with the quality of play, acknowledging the competitiveness of the participating teams.
He said: “The standard of this tournament has been very high because no team is a push over, you can see that everybody is sweating to win.
“We are very impressed with the performances of the teams.’’
Bello, who gave kudos to the Delta Basketball Association for providing the administrative framework for the success of the tournament, also lauded the level of officiating at the tournament.
“As a technical official, I must tell you that officiating at this tournament have been very fair.
“We have no problem with that. We are impressed by the conduct of the officials handling the games,’’ he said.
That in some of the games played on Friday night, First Deep Water beat Oluyole Babes 56-48; Customs defeated AHIP 74-57, while Delta Force beat GT 2000 49-46.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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