Former Nigerian international Igoh Ugboaja has declared his intention to run for the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, pledging to restore unity and refocus the sport on player development. Speaking in his campaign message, Ugboaja said he was not entering the race to oppose any individual but to ensure a fair electoral process.
Ugboaja raised concerns about the conduct of the election, citing claims of inadequate notice and alleged changes to some state-level structures. He insisted his position was about fairness rather than personal disputes.
Experience within the sport, he argued, should be recognised. "Basketball requires time and passion. It is not simply about how much money you have, whether you have government resources or whether you occupy a government position," Ugboaja said.
He appealed for greater involvement of former players and other stakeholders in federation decisions, asking: "How do we ensure that players actually enjoy playing basketball?" His stated objective is to remove existing divisions and establish a system centred on the growth of basketball across Nigeria.
