…To Overhaul Domestic League, Give Women’s Basketball Gets Priority
Former D’Tigers captain and one of Nigeria Olympic Committee Vice Presidents Olumide Oyedeji has formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), promising to end the divisions that have continued to undermine the development of the sport.
Oyedeji, who is also the Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association, made his declaration on Monday, presenting himself as an experienced administrator and former elite athlete capable of uniting Nigeria’s fractured basketball community and repositioning the sport for sustainable growth.
The former Nigerian international said his decision was not driven by personal ambition but by what he described as a call to rebuild, reunite and reposition Nigerian basketball.
With more than three decades of involvement in the game, Oyedeji believes his journey from grassroots basketball in Ibadan to the NBA, Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, African Games and professional leagues across six continents gives him a unique understanding of the challenges confronting Nigerian basketball.
“I understand the journey because I have lived it—from the grassroots courts of Ibadan to the biggest basketball stages in the world,” Oyedeji said.
“I know the journey, and I am ready to build the pathway for the next generation.”
The NBBF presidential hopeful said Nigerian basketball possesses the talent, coaches, officials and youthful population required to compete at the highest level, but argued that the country’s potential has been held back by poor structures, inadequate investment, disunity and leadership crises.
He promised to confront what he described as personal interests, regional divisions, political interference and unnecessary conflicts within the basketball family.
Oyedeji’s campaign is built around an athlete-centred philosophy, with players’ welfare placed at the heart of his proposed administration.
He pledged to pursue appropriate insurance schemes, improved medical support and injury protection, fair treatment of athletes and structured programmes to prepare players for life after their competitive careers.
He also proposed post-career mentoring initiatives and educational scholarships for domestic players, insisting that the responsibility of the federation should not end when an athlete’s playing career comes to an end.
At the foundation of Oyedeji’s proposed administration is an aggressive grassroots development programme.
He plans to work with state associations to establish functional development programmes across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones while taking basketball into schools, communities, local governments and underserved areas.
According to him, talent identification must no longer be concentrated in a handful of major cities.
“No talented Nigerian child should be denied the opportunity to succeed because of geography, background, connections or financial circumstances,” he declared.
He also promised to revitalise basketball in secondary schools, colleges, academies and grassroots competitions while establishing a clearer pathway from youth basketball to domestic leagues, national teams and professional opportunities abroad.
Oyedeji said the domestic leagues require urgent restructuring if Nigerian basketball is to develop a sustainable commercial ecosystem.
He promised to create a reliable basketball calendar and build men’s and women’s competitions that are competitive, professionally managed and commercially attractive.
Players, coaches, officials, broadcasters, supporters and sponsors, he said, must be able to trust the league structure.
His plan also extends beyond players and coaches.
Oyedeji wants administrators, team managers, medical personnel, journalists, media officers, content creators and marketers developed as part of a broader basketball economy capable of creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerians.
Another major component of his proposed agenda is the development of coaches and technical officials.
Oyedeji pledged continuous professional development, certification, mentorship and international exposure for coaches, referees, statisticians, commissioners and other technical personnel.
He said partnerships with FIBA and other international bodies would be pursued to provide elite training and certification programmes.
“Merit, not favouritism must determine the opportunity,” he said.
He also promised that national-team selection would be based on merit, performance, discipline, commitment and national interest.
Oyedeji also placed women’s basketball among the priorities of his proposed administration.
He promised deliberate investment in creating opportunities for girls and women to develop, compete and take leadership positions within the sport.
Nigeria’s history of producing outstanding female players and teams, he argued, must be backed by structures capable of protecting and expanding that legacy.
Oyedeji’s campaign also targets the financial and administrative credibility of the NBBF.
He promised audited financial reports, open governance and clear institutional policies as part of efforts to restore public confidence in the federation.
He also wants to reposition the NBBF brand to attract credible corporate sponsors, media-rights partnerships and private-sector investment.
According to him, Nigerian basketball must become an investment-worthy sports property rather than depend primarily on government support.
Infrastructure also features prominently in his plans, with a pledge to collaborate with federal, state and private-sector partners to refurbish existing facilities and develop modern community basketball courts.
Oyedeji is banking heavily on his international experience and network to drive his proposed transformation.
He said his relationships across the NBA, FIBA, International Olympic Committee and other international sporting organisations would be deployed to secure exchange programmes, international camps, technical assistance, scholarships, sponsorship opportunities and development programmes for Nigerian athletes and officials.
But perhaps his most significant political message is his promise to unite a basketball community that has endured years of disagreements.
He described himself as a “bridge-builder” committed to peace, fairness, transparency, inclusion, accountability and measurable development.
“The game belongs to all of us, and everyone must have a meaningful place within it,” he said.
Oyedeji’s declaration comes as Nigerian basketball prepares for another potentially consequential NBBF electoral cycle, with the federation’s leadership and direction likely to remain under intense scrutiny from stakeholders.
For the former D’Tigers captain, the contest is therefore bigger than an individual seeking office.
“This election must be about more than choosing an individual. It must be about choosing the future of Nigerian basketball,” he said.
He promised that stakeholders would be consulted, decisions explained and resources responsibly managed if elected.
“I am not coming to take from basketball. I am coming to build a legacy that will outlive us all,” Oyedeji declared.
He called on delegates and stakeholders to reject personal interests and support what he described as a new era of unity, transparency, athlete welfare and measurable development.
“To our athletes, I will listen to you. To our coaches and officials, I will value and develop you. To our state associations, I will work with you and strengthen you. To our sponsors and partners, I will provide credibility and value,” he said.
Oyedeji ended his declaration with a direct statement of intent:
“I am ready to serve you.
“I am ready to unite us.
“I am ready to lead.”
The former D’Tigers captain will now seek to translate his playing pedigree, administrative experience and international relationships into electoral support as the race for the NBBF presidency gathers momentum.
By Maxwell Kumoye
