The outgoing President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has completed his eight-year tenure at the helm of Nigerian basketball, expressing profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his support.
In an emotional farewell letter addressed to the President, Engr. Kida praised President Tinubu for providing an enabling environment that allowed Nigerian basketball to flourish both locally and on the world stage.
He thanked the President for his immense encouragement and unwavering support throughout his administration.
“Together, we witnessed D’Tigress claim five consecutive AfroBasket titles, establishing Nigeria as the undisputed queen of African basketball.
“Together, we celebrated a historic Olympic quarter-final appearance in Tokyo and an unforgettable victory over Team USA. Together, we put Africa firmly on the world basketball map.
“These achievements belong not to any individual, but to every stakeholder who believed in the vision: our dedicated athletes who sacrificed so much, our coaches and technical staff who worked tirelessly, the state basketball associations who nurtured talent at the grassroots, and the countless fans whose support carried us through difficult moments.
“Local League Rejuvenation One of the quieter but equally significant achievements of our administration was the revitalisation of domestic basketball competitions. When we came in, the local league structure was in disarray, with irregular fixtures, poor organisation, and dwindling interest from fans and sponsors alike.
“Over the past eight years, we rebuilt the NBBF Premier League into a competitive, well-structured championship that runs on a predictable calendar. Both the men’s and women’s divisions now feature clubs from across the federation competing at a level that genuinely prepares our athletes for continental and international assignments.
“We expanded participation, improved officiating standards, and worked to attract corporate partners back to Nigerian club basketball. The league became a pipeline, not just a showcase. Many of the D’Tigress stars who conquered Africa and stunned the world at the Olympics sharpened their skills on Nigerian Premier League courts.
There is still work to be done. Infrastructure remains a challenge.
“Sponsorship must grow. But the foundation for a thriving domestic basketball ecosystem now exists where, eight years ago, there was uncertainty. The incoming Board inherits a league that is alive, competitive, and capable of becoming one of Africa’s finest.
On behalf of the entire basketball family in Nigeria, Kida extended his appreciation to President Tinubu, noting that the achievements recorded during his tenure would not have been possible without the Federal Government’s commitment to sports development.
The outgoing NBBF boss also expressed his sincere gratitude to the management and staff of the NBBF, as well as corporate sponsors and partners, for their dedication and support over the last eight years.
He acknowledged their collective efforts in repositioning Nigerian basketball.
Engr. Kida further appreciated the National Sports Commission (NSC), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and FIBA Africa for their collaboration and guidance, which he said were instrumental to Nigeria’s successes in continental and global competitions.
He concluded by congratulating the newly elected President of the NBBF and other board members, wishing them success as they take over the leadership of the federation and urging all stakeholders to give them the same support accorded to his administration.