Igoche Mark Explores Partnership With ABU To Boost Scholarships For Players

Prominent basketball promoter Igoche Mark is exploring a strategic partnership with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to expand scholarship opportunities for aspiring basketball players.

During a visit to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Adamu Ahmed, Mark emphasised the importance of combining education with sport, praising ABU’s leadership in offering scholarships to student-athletes.

He noted that the institution has set a standard now being followed by others, including Nile University of Nigeria.

“Education remains the foundation for securing the future of young athletes,” Mark said, adding that his initiative aims to increase the number of basketball players benefiting from academic opportunities.

Professor Ahmed, in response, commended Mark’s contributions to basketball’s development, describing him as a key figure in advancing the sport in Nigeria.

He also reaffirmed ABU’s willingness to support programmes that promote basketball growth, stressing the need for unity among stakeholders to unlock the sport’s full potential.

The proposed collaboration is expected to build on ABU’s existing support structures while reviving the long-standing vision of establishing a basketball academy at the institution—an idea originally championed by the late Felix Akiga.

If realised, the partnership could significantly strengthen pathways for young players to combine education with elite basketball development, further positioning Nigeria as a hub for talent in the sport.