Youth-Focused ABA Referee Clinic Strengthens Future of Basketball Officiating

Youth-Focused ABA Referee Clinic Strengthens Future of Basketball Officiating

By BSN Sports 

The Chairman of the FCT Basketball Caretaker Committee, His Royal Highness Eze Ifeanyi Eke, has described the successful conclusion of the three-day Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) Referees and Technical Officials Clinic as a major step toward securing the future of basketball officiating in Nigeria, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Speaking at the closing ceremony in Abuja on Saturday, Eke said the initiative represents a deliberate effort to develop a new generation of referees capable of sustaining the growth of the sport as many of the country's experienced officials approach retirement.

He noted that the ageing population of referees and coaches has become a growing concern within the basketball community, making the training of younger officials a priority.

"Today, history has been made. We are now getting a new crop of referees. The referees we currently have are ageing, and that has been a concern for us. Just as we need younger coaches, we also need younger referees to sustain the game," Eke said.

He disclosed that following the referees' clinic, attention would shift to coaching development through specialised training programmes aimed at producing the next generation of basketball coaches.

"We have benefited from coaching clinics facilitated by international experts, and we intend to continue building capacity to strengthen basketball development across the country," he added.

Tagged "Dream Alive," the clinic targeted boys and girls between the ages of 17 and 25 who are currently in school. The programme was designed to equip aspiring officials with modern basketball officiating skills that meet international standards while creating viable career opportunities in refereeing.

More than 25 participants from basketball academies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kano State took part in the three-day training. Successful participants received certificates after completing the programme.

Eke said the clinic also attracted participants from several parts of the country, including Kano, Kogi, Enugu and Benue states, alongside representatives from different geopolitical zones, demonstrating the growing commitment to basketball development nationwide.

"This is one of the reasons I am excited. Almost every part of the basketball family is represented here. It demonstrates our collective commitment to developing the game," he said.

The FCT basketball chairman commended the founder of the Amateur Basketball Academies, Prof. DC Lucky Abubakar, for initiating the programme. He also paid tribute to veteran coach Emmanuel Odah, describing him as one of Nigeria's most accomplished basketball coaches with a track record of producing internationally recognised players and Olympians.

In his remarks, Prof. Abubakar reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots basketball development, describing the Dream Alive Initiative as a long-term investment in young players, referees and technical officials.

He said the programme was created to expand opportunities for young people interested in basketball officiating, stressing that refereeing should no longer be viewed as a profession reserved for retired players.

"I love basketball, and many talented young people have been neglected. Officiating is not a retirement job. We want young people who watch and understand the game to become referees. This is their dream, and we are here to support them," he said.

Abubakar explained that the initiative would gradually expand from the geopolitical zones to states and local government areas to deepen grassroots participation and broaden its impact.

"Our vision is to make basketball thrive alongside football by taking the game to every community," he said.

He expressed confidence that the private sector would support the initiative as its impact becomes more visible, adding that the programme was built on the National Sports Commission's principles of consolidation, collaboration and innovation to ensure long-term sustainability.

Abubakar also revealed plans to renovate selected basketball courts across the country after ongoing assessments of existing facilities to provide safe and accessible venues for youth development.

On the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), he dismissed suggestions of a crisis within the federation and urged stakeholders to remain united ahead of the expiration of the current board's tenure later this year.

"We have major competitions ahead of us, and this is not the time to divide the basketball family. Our focus should remain on developing the game and creating opportunities for the next generation," he said.