NBBF leading by example

That Nigerian sporting scene has been docile, and lacking in activities for a long while is an understatement. Activities in most sports federations have almost grounded to a halt since the inauguration of their various boards, nearly two years ago.

One of the things Nigerians looked forward to from these federations was the rebuilding of structures, which have been in ruins. But surprisingly, processes have not been seen being initiated. Could those
promises made by the aspirants, now incumbents be empty promises that will never see actualization? Are they all going to turn their backs to the electorates to lick their wounds?

This trend however is not peculiar to any particular sporting group, but a tradition in the entire sporting circles. Fortunately, the Nigerian Basketball Federation, NBBF, is showing the light. They have just qualified for the forthcoming All African Games, where they snatched a ticket from other top basket ball nations in the continent. While they are achieving this feat, most other federations are still going cap in hand, in search of funds and sponsorship to kickstart their activities. Immediately after inauguration, the board of NBBF hit the ground running.


The chairman and members of the board no doubt came with a plan and programme of action they intended to put on ground after election. It is therefore not surprising that they were able to secure sponsorship deals that have helped them to navigate the troubled waters of funding, thus galvanising their programmes and actions for maximum effect.

Through foresight and sound initiatives, the NBBF was able to circumvent the wehave- no-fund syndrome of the Ministry of Sports that has bedevilled most of the sports federations. The usual refrain from the ministry is always; since there is no fund to accommodate all sports, most team-events must be scaled down to make for more individual events that have medal prospects to make the contingent to sporting meets.

Tijani Umar, the current President of NBBF has changed ways of doing things, and basketball in Nigeria is on its way back to the top as fans’ delight. Apart from winning the Super Four invitational recently, where the likes of South Africa, Kenya, and Mozambique participated, the team also was able to travel to Burkina-Faso to notch up a victory.

This shows their state of preparedness to win the event held in South Africa. These strings of victories are precursor to what lies ahead of the team. It must also be noted that these things have happened on account of the assembling of a sound technical team to guide their rebuilding process. Most pundits are not surprised with the revolution that is going on in the federation because the President, Tijani Umar, is an ardent fan and an ex-player himself.

Right from his national youth service days with the National Sports Commission, NSC, he has been a national player who had preoccupied himself with bettering the lots of basketball players. I wasn’t surprised with the introduction and fortification of the yearly sponsored league games for both male and female that has seen talented players emerge on annual basis, in both categories.

The strict governance policy being implemented in the federation is second to none and has succeeded in attracting more sponsors to the federation that was formerly classified as “abandoned,” for lack of activities. In addition, their legion of foreign-based professionals has become a formidable force to be reckoned with, since they attract goodwill as well to the federation.

It further shows that when a federation is properly organized, it attracts quality individuals and the attendant goodwill that follows. This is highly unlike other federations that depend largely on the government for handouts to run their affairs. No credible sports federation can succeed in this austere times just with the stipends that fall out as monthly subventions from the sports ministry.

Unless a federation is pro-active and prepared to work harder, the dreams and aspirations of their teams as well as those of their teeming fans will remain illusions. One powerful lesson most federations must learn from the current board of NBBF is to refine their acts and repackage their activities in order to attract quality sponsorship from corporate organisations.
The reason is that no quality sponsor wants to identify with an organization that is enmeshed in governance issues. Their corporate image is too important to be messed up. So the secret to enjoying quality patronage is the refinement of acts, programmes and activities. It is most cheering therefore that the basket ball federation has become an example worthy of emulation by other federations.

I only hope that other federations would quickly harmonize the various contending issues since their elections so as to attain greater heights. Nigerian sports need a shot in the arm to wake up from slumber. The various boards must therefore look beyond common estacodes and other inherent pilfering culture. They must even seek to surpass the gallant efforts of the NBBF.