President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu has expressed confidence that newly elected Secretary General of World Olympians Association (WOA ) and former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji can play a key role in restoring stability to Nigerian Basketball Federation, NBBF, as stakeholders intensify efforts to resolve years of its administrative turmoil.
Ahmedu, who headed the technical committee of the outgoing Musa Kida-led NBBF Board, spoke following a crucial stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja aimed at resetting the governance structure of the sport.
He suggested that the prolonged crisis that has disrupted Nigerian basketball may be nearing a resolution, emphasising that lasting peace would only come through structure, dialogue and strict adherence to due process.
Central to Ahmedu’s outlook is the involvement of Oyedeji, whom he described as a credible and unifying figure at a time when confidence in basketball administration remains fragile. Oyedeji, a former NBA player and long-serving national team captain, represented Nigeria at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Africa Games and several major continental tournaments.
Describing the Abuja meeting as a potential turning point, Ahmedu said, “This is a fresh tip-off,” signalling what he hopes will be a new chapter for the sport.
Nigerian basketball has been mired in leadership disputes, legal battles and repeated programme suspensions since 2017 when former sports minister Solomon Dalung interfered in the NBBF elections thus creating prolonged uncertainty for players, coaches and officials.
