25 Young Participants Begin Basketball Referees' Development Programme in Abuja

25 Young Participants Begin Basketball Referees' Development Programme in Abuja

By Our Reporter 

The Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) on Thursday commenced a three-day Referees and Technical Officials Clinic at the basketball court of the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja, as part of efforts to develop a new generation of basketball officials in Nigeria, BSN Sports.com.ng reports.

Tagged "Dream Alive," the programme is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 17 and 25 who are currently in school. The initiative aims to equip participants with modern officiating skills in line with international standards while creating career opportunities in basketball officiating and sports administration.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President and Founder of the Amateur Basketball Academies and Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Aliyu Abubakar, urged participants to embrace the training as a platform for building successful careers in basketball.

He emphasised the vital role referees and technical officials play in the growth of the sport.

"While players often receive the spotlight, every successful basketball competition depends on competent referees and technical officials who ensure fairness, professionalism, discipline and strict adherence to the rules of the game," Abubakar said.

According to him, the Academy's vision extends beyond developing players to nurturing every stakeholder within the basketball ecosystem.

"The vision of the Amateur Basketball Academies has always been to discover, nurture and develop talents at every level of basketball. This includes coaches, referees, table officials, statisticians, commissioners and administrators. We firmly believe that a complete basketball development programme must empower everyone involved in the game," he added.

Abubakar described the "Dream Alive" initiative as a platform for young Nigerians who are passionate about basketball but may not necessarily pursue careers as players.

"The initiative is more than just a training programme. It is a movement designed to inspire young Nigerians by opening pathways to careers in sports officiating, technical administration and sports management," he said.

He congratulated the participants on their selection, describing it as recognition of their passion and commitment to the sport, while encouraging them to approach every lecture, practical session and assessment with dedication.

Also speaking, FIBA Referees Instructor Nuhu Samuel said the clinic would combine classroom lectures with practical sessions to expose participants to modern basketball officiating techniques and the latest interpretations of FIBA rules and mechanics.

He noted that the intensive programme is designed to prepare participants for the demands of contemporary basketball officiating.

About 25 participants drawn from basketball academies in the Federal Capital Territory and Kano State are taking part in the clinic.

Other members of the ABA Board present at the opening ceremony included Coaches Adeka Daudu, Emmanuel Odah, Alex Ujoh and Oyekan Oyedeji, as well as Kayode Adeniyi and the Board Secretary, Genevieve Ogechi Ihenewengwa.