Dr Mustapha Abdullahi don show as one of the names wey people dey discuss ahead of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) election, as hin supporters dey highlight hin experience to run federal institution plus hin long time inside basketball administration.
Abdullahi, 41, get PhD for mechanical engineering from University of Manchester and e dey serve as Director General of Energy Commission of Nigeria. E still dey connected with DAM Foundation Championship, wey dey bring competitive basketball to Okene every December and don give teams wey no dey for Nigeria traditional centres another platform to compete.
Hin supporters dey talk about career wey start for court: e represent Nigeria for Under-18 and senior levels, e play for University of Wyoming and professionally, and later e become the first Nigerian wey NBA certify as agent for United States. E serve as Vice President for BDA Sports Management pass 17 years and, afta e return to Nigeria, e help bring African Basketball League and Continental Basketball League enter the country. E co-found AFA Sports, wey dem describe as the first African brand to outfit team for Olympic Games.
The debate around NBBF next leadership dey come as African basketball dey expand commercially. Figures wey industry pipo cite dey credit Basketball Africa League say e don contribute pass $250 million to host-country GDP and e don support about 37,000 jobs since 2021, while NBA dey project estimated $5.4 billion economic impact and pass 650,000 jobs by 2034.
Nigeria basketball strong sides include D'Tigress, wey don win five AfroBasket titles back-to-back and dem dey number eight for world ranking, plus steady pipeline of NBA talent. Abdullahi supporters dey argue say the country main task na to build sustainable structure through infrastructure, governance reform, commercial development, digitisation and private-sector participation.
