Prominent basketball promoter and initiator of the Mark D Ball Basketball Championship, Mr. Igoche Mark, has commended the Andoma of Doma, Dr. Ahmadu Aliyu Oga Onawo (OON), for convening a high-level meeting of basketball stakeholders aimed at restoring unity within the Nigerian basketball community.
The meeting, which held over the weekend at the royal father’s palace in Doma, Nasarawa State, brought together key stakeholders from across the country, both physically and virtually, to deliberate on ways to safeguard and strengthen the institution of basketball in Nigeria.
Addressing participants, the Andoma of Doma urged stakeholders to set aside personal differences and work collectively for the growth of the sport, stressing that the Nigerian basketball system must be protected.
“The institution has not been properly safeguarded, and this we must change. We must agree to do better. Each of us should jealously protect the Nigeria Basketball Federation (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 desire will come,” the monarch said.
He further emphasized that whoever emerges as president of the NBBF must carry all stakeholders along and called for another reconciliatory meeting within one month to achieve lasting peace in Nigerian basketball.
Commending the initiative, Mr. Igoche Mark described the meeting as timely and called for more such engagements, urging stakeholders to move beyond past disagreements for the collective good of the sport.
“I sincerely appreciate our royal father for taking time out of his busy schedule to call this peace meeting. We are one big family united by basketball, and the only way forward is togetherness. For us to move forward, we must forget the past and forgive each other’s shortcomings,” he said.
Also speaking, South West Representative on the NBBF Board, Mr. Olumide Oyedeji, echoed the call for unity, urging stakeholders to act with greater responsibility and refrain from character assassination and negative campaigns that could further divide the basketball community.
Other notable stakeholders present at the meeting included Adamu Deshi, Osita Nwachukwu, Ejike Ugboaja, Frank Jituboh and Kingsley Aigbonoga. Chairmen of the Basketball Associations in Plateau State and Nasarawa State, Col. Samuel Ahmedu (rtd) and Isah Umar, also participated virtually.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to pursue dialogue, unity and collective action in repositioning Nigerian basketball for sustainable growth.
