Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has been elected president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, polling 48 votes at the elective congress in Abuja on October 15 to defeat former D'Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji, who secured eight, while Ejike Ugboaja failed to record a vote. Abdullahi, who serves as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, takes charge of the federation at a time stakeholders are pressing for stronger development structures.
Speaking after his election, Abdullahi recalled the financial struggles that shaped his early love of the game. "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 described the result as "a call to serve and a commitment to the future of Nigerian basketball."
Morpheus Major-Idoko, founder of Graffiti Basketball and Music, said Abdullahi's record of organising competitions justified the confidence placed in him and pointed to media rights, merchandising, ticketing and food and beverage services as areas with significant economic potential. National referee Daniel Jonah expressed optimism about more training clinics for officials, while players' representative Paul Solomon Dibal urged the new board to deliver more tournaments.
Ugo Udezue was elected vice-president and will represent the South East, joined on the board by Abba Abdullair Kaka (North East), Yusuf Surajo (North West), Fubara Vincent (South South), Babatunde Ogunade (South West) and Abdullahi, who will hold the North Central seat. Sule Mohammed will serve as technical representative, with DC Lucky Aliyu as players' representative, Emmanuel Iza as corporate sponsors' representative, Bamiduro Olumide representing NAPHER-SD and Prof. Florence Adeyanju representing the Nigerian Association of Women in Sports.
