Former D'Tigers captain and Nigeria Olympic Committee vice-president Olumide Oyedeji has declared his intention to run for the presidency of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF). The former Nigerian international and Secretary General of the World Olympians Association presented himself on Monday as an experienced administrator and elite athlete capable of reuniting the country's basketball community.
"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, adding: "I know the journey, and I am ready to build the pathway for the next generation." With more than three decades in the game, including stints at the NBA, Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, African Games and professional leagues across six continents, he argued his background gives him a clear view of the sport's challenges.
His platform rests on an athlete-centred philosophy covering insurance, medical support, injury protection, post-career mentoring and educational scholarships. At the base of the plan is a grassroots programme targeting all six geopolitical zones through partnerships with state associations, schools, communities and local governments. "No talented Nigerian child should be denied the opportunity to succeed because of geography, background, connections or financial circumstances," he declared.
"Merit, not favouritism must determine the opportunity," he said, also pledging restructured domestic leagues, broader investment in coaches, referees and technical officials, and national-team selection based on performance.
