Ekezie Poised To Develop Basketball In Nigeria

A retired professional basketball player, Obinna Ekezie, has said that he wants to be remembered by the people of Port Harcourt and Nigerians as a person who has invested in basketball.
He stated that his focus was to develop the game in the country, saying that he has decided to build a foremost basketball academy in Nigeria ( OBN Academy).
Ekezie, said this in an interview made available to Tidesports, yesterday, adding that what he had seen after his retirement back to Nigeria has been lack of infrastructure to develop the game.
According to him, the Academy in Lagos, has 700 seater arena, studio to produce competitions, fitness gym, medical centre and entertainment area, adding his goal to have a high school in 2023 to make it a complete academy.
“I want to be remembered by the people of Port Harcourt and rest of Nigerians as someone that invested in basketball.
What I have seen after I retired from playing active basketball since 12 to 15 years ago has been lack of infrastructure to develop the game,” Ekezie said.
The renowned basketball player has made a statement by renovating the Port Harcourt basketball court, at Niger/ Bende Streets.
Obinna Ekezie, grew up in Port Harcourt until he was 18 years, before he left for United States of America, attended Houston Academy on Basketball Scholarship.
In 1999 he started playing in NBA for five years and played three years in Europe, comprehensively he played professional basketball for eight years.

By: Tonye Orabere