NBBF Presidency: ‘I’m Coming To Fix Nigerian Basketball’ – Ugboaja

Former D’Tigers star Ejike Ugboaja has declared his intention to contest the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), promising to end factionalism and rebuild the domestic game through longer leagues, grassroots development and greater stakeholder participation.

Ugboaja, who made his ambition known while addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said his decision was driven by years of experience as a player and his desire to address what he described as persistent problems within Nigerian basketball.

The former international represented Nigeria from the Under-18 level and featured at major competitions, including the Olympic Games. In 2006, he became the first player drafted into the NBA while playing in the Nigerian domestic league.

“I have decided to run because I believe everyone who plays basketball in Nigeria knows my contribution,” Ugboaja said.

“I am not a politician. I am not in government. I am a basketball player, and I want to fix Nigerian basketball because I want to take more young people off the streets.”

Ugboaja said he had invested his personal resources in supporting players and grassroots programmes since returning to Nigeria after his draft.

“I did not do these things with government backing. I did them with my personal money,” he said.

The former D’Tigers player also criticised the short duration of domestic competitions, arguing that Nigerian basketball needs a properly structured league capable of giving players regular competitive action.

“We cannot continue to play two-week leagues when we know how basketball is organised abroad,” he said.

“If I am elected, we will give basketball the attention it deserves. We should have a league that lasts at least eight months.”

He also promised to expand the game into secondary schools and universities while strengthening the Premier League and creating clearer pathways for locally based players to reach the national team.

Ugboaja said Nigeria’s reliance on players based abroad was partly a consequence of the lack of consistent domestic competition.

“I was drafted from Nigeria because there was a league that allowed me to develop, perform and eventually play for Nigeria. How many players today have had that opportunity?” he asked.

On the forthcoming NBBF election, Ugboaja called for a transparent process in which all candidates are given equal opportunity.

“There are many candidates, and I have seen Dr Mustafa Abdullahi. He is a great person. I have never met him, but I understand that he has a lot of love for basketball,” he said.

However, he argued that experience within the sport should be recognised.

“Basketball requires time and passion. It is not simply about how much money you have, whether you have government resources or whether you occupy a government position.”

Ugboaja also raised concerns about the conduct of the electoral process, including claims of inadequate notice and alleged changes to some state-level structures.

His position, he said, was not about opposing any individual but ensuring that the election was conducted fairly.

“All I am asking for is a fair election. Let everyone come out and compete,” he said.

“I am not running because I want to fight anybody or revisit the past. The past is the past. I want us to move forward, bring everybody together and develop basketball.”

Ugboaja also appealed for greater involvement of former players and other stakeholders in decisions affecting the federation.

“Basketball put food on my table. The question is: how do we make it put food on other people’s tables? How do we ensure that players actually enjoy playing basketball?” he said.

He said his ultimate objective was to remove the divisions within the sport and establish a system focused on player development and the growth of basketball.

“I want us to concentrate on basketball,” Ugboaja said. “For me, it is about doing basketball properly. We need to be given the opportunity to do it.”