Dare Inaugurates Interim Management Committee for NBBF
By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare has inaugurated the Interim Management Committee that will oversee the affairs of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The colourful event took place at the Moshood MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The inauguration was necessitated following the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the withdrawal of Nigeria from all forms of international basketball competition for the next two years.
According to Dare, the inauguration is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to sports development in all its ramifications, especially for the country’s A category sports of which Basketball is among.
He therefore charged the committee to work round the clock with adequate sense of responsibility in order to return the country’s Basketball sport to its glorious day.
“I, therefore, charge you to carry out this enormous task ahead of you with the utmost sense of responsibility, bearing in mind that you cannot afford to fail in this National assignment,” Dare said.
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Dare also charged the Committee 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.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the entire committee, the Chairman, Dr. Henry Nzekwu heaped praise on the Minister for the confidence vested on them by entrusting them with such patriotic national assignment. He therefore promised to work selflessly in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure the return of normalcy in the NBBF within the allotted timeframe.
In his words ; “We are not unmindful of the challenges and circumstances that warranted our appointment, the committee will therefore work diligently to deliver on its mandate with the best form of professionalism in order to return peace, tranquility, fairness and equity to the Basketball Federation.
“We will develop a roadmap for laying a solid foundation for restoring the glory of basketball in Nigeria.”
Dr. Nzekwu therefore solicited the support of media for the adequate discharge of their duty in order to handover a well reformed and restructured NBBF at the end of their tenure.
Other nine members of the committee are;
Udon Ubon Humapwa, Frank Jituboh , Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Peter Nelson , Group Captain Rahinatu Garba , Aderemi Adewunmi, Oluchi Nzekwe, Seni Adio (SAN) and Zenith Bank Representative.
