Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has declared his intention to lead the Nigeria Basketball Federation, calling for what he described as a comprehensive repositioning of Nigerian basketball built on innovation, competence and institutional discipline. "Nigerian basketball does not need leadership for the sake of leadership. It needs a paradigm shift. It needs innovation without losing institutional discipline," Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi, who has played and supported the sport outside the traditional basketball administration structure, said his experience across government, academia, business, energy and international institutions could help attract partnerships and investment into the game. "A president of the NBBF should be able to open doors, attract partners and make Nigerian basketball visible in rooms where decisions and investments are made," he added.
He pointed to initiatives including the annual DAM Foundation Basketball event in Okene, Kogi State, along with scholarships, skills development, fellowship programmes and community engagement, as evidence of his commitment to connecting basketball with opportunities for young people. "The young player in a neighbourhood court does not care about federation politics. He wants a pathway. The talented teenager wants an opportunity. The coach wants support. The professional player wants a functioning system," Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi also called for greater investment and visibility for women's basketball and stronger structures for clubs and administrators. He urged stronger relationships among basketball stakeholders, government, businesses and international partners, while stressing that experience alone must be matched by vision, integrity and the capacity to deliver results.
