Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi has been elected as the new president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), succeeding Ahmedu Musa Kida, the former Nigerian international who led the federation for two terms. The election took place at the NBBF elective congress in Abuja.
Abdullahi also serves as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. His path to the presidency was largely uncontested, with nearly all rival candidates either disqualified or having withdrawn from the race citing various reasons.
Former international Ugo Udezue was elected vice president, having earlier been re-elected as the South-East representative on the board. The other zonal representatives named to the new board include Fubara Fobika (South-South), Babatunde Oguntade (South-West), Yusuf Surajo (North-East), Abubakar Abba Kaka (North-West) and Abdullahi Mustafa (North-Central).
Reflecting on his election, Abdullahi traced his basketball journey back to grassroots courts in Northern Nigeria, revealing that he once borrowed money to buy a pair of basketball shoes. "As a young boy growing up in Northern Nigeria, my basketball journey began on grassroots courts, driven by a passion so strong that I once had to borrow money to buy a pair of basketball shoes," he said.
He added: "This is more than a personal milestone; it is a call to serve and a commitment to the future of Nigerian basketball."
