Former Nigerian international Udezue has endorsed Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi for the presidency of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), presenting his candidacy as the basis for a professional revolution in the sport. He described Nigeria’s leagues and national teams as commercial properties that should be managed through long-term planning, media rights, sponsorship and diaspora scouting.
Udezue also advocated a national digital database covering players, coaches, referees and clubs, paired with digital platforms for competitions, live statistics, streaming and talent identification. “Data is what sponsors, broadcasters and investors buy, and it is the simplest route to transparency,” he said. He argued that government funding alone could not sustain the growth of Nigerian basketball and urged the federation to attract private investment into clubs, arenas and academies.
On Abdullahi’s credentials, Udezue pointed to a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Manchester and his current role as Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. “Budgets, audits, infrastructure, international partners and the politics of Abuja are his daily work. That is the skill the next phase of Nigerian basketball demands,” he said. He added that his support also rested on knowing Abdullahi personally for more than two years and witnessing his grassroots work, including the DAM Foundation Championship held each December in Okene.
Udezue called for former internationals and basketball professionals to gain greater influence over technical matters, national teams and youth development, and said Abdullahi could help bridge divisions within the community. “Nigerian basketball is too small for enemies and too big for any one group to carry alone,” he said. The NBBF Congress is scheduled to elect new leadership on 15 October.
