Royal Father Calls for Unity in Nigerian Basketball, Stakeholders Respond

Prominent Basketball Promoter and Initiator of Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship, Mr. Igoche Mark, has praised the Andoma of Doma, Dr. Ahmadu Aliyu Oga Onawo (OON), for convening a meeting of basketball stakeholders aimed at uniting the basketball family.

The meeting, held at the royal father’s palace in Doma, Nasarawa State over the weekend, brought together critical stakeholders, both physically and virtually, to discuss ways to safeguard the institution of basketball in Nigeria.

The Andoma of Doma urged stakeholders to put aside their differences and work towards the betterment of Nigerian basketball. “The institution has not been safe-guarded, this we must do, we must agree to do better. Each of us should jealously safeguard the NBBF. We must seek investments that will make the sport great. Our divergent views must not be our undoing; we must apply wisdom, and with this, the prosperity we are demanding will come,” he said.

He added that anyone who emerges as the president of the NBBF must carry others along, and urged stakeholders to hold a similar meeting within a month to find lasting peace in Nigerian basketball.

Commending the royal father’s initiative, Mr. Igoche Mark called for more such meetings, emphasizing the need for stakeholders to forget past shortcomings and forgive each other.

“I really appreciate you, our royal father, for taking time out to call us for a peace meeting, despite your busy schedule. We are one big family united by basketball, and for this initiative of yours, the only way we can move forward is if we come together. I want to urge all of us that, for all of us to move forward, we must forget the past; let’s forgive each other’s shortcomings,” Mark said.

South West Representative on the NBBF Board, Olumide Oyedeji, echoed Mark’s sentiments, calling for a greater sense of responsibility among stakeholders and urging them to avoid character assassination and negative campaigns.

Other notable attendees included Adamu Deshi, Osita Nwachukwu, Ejike Ugboaja, Frank Jituboh, and Kingsley Aigbonoga, as well as the Plateau State and Nasarawa State chairmen of the Basketball Association, Col. Samuel Ahmedu (rtd) and Isah Umar, who joined virtually.