Sports wear manufacturing giant, NIKE and the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF have entered into a long term partnership that will see the sports wear manufacturing outfit being involved with the development of basketball in the country.
Disclosing the new initiative at the weekend, president of the Nigerian basketball ruling body, Tijjani Umar who is currently in the United States of America that the new initiative will see NIKE being involved with Nigeria national teams from senior to junior teams in various competitions.
The new partnership according to Umar will see the FIBA/NBA Without Border having a stopover in Nigeria in August this year and summer camps for the nation’s junior national teams.
The NBBF boss who expected to attend three other meeting with Nigerian players in the USA and former players as well and another meeting before returning to the country next week also disclosed that the National Basketball Association, NBA have successfully opened it Africa regional office in Johannesburg, South Africa with Senegalese former international Ahmadu Gallo as Vice-President of the NBA Africa office.
The NBBF president thus describe his recent visit to the USA which saw him being one of the over 100, 000 crowd that watched Sunday NBA All-Star game won by the Eastern conference 141-139 as very rewarding.
“I want to categorically state that this latest visit to the USA is very rewarding as Nigeria basketball would be the better for it.
Meanwhile the season opening seminar/ workshop for the game technical officials comes up in Ilorin, Kwara state capital from Thursday through Saturday this week.
The workshop will among other thing ratify jump-ball dates for the men and women premier league tentatively fixed for February 27 and March 10 respectively.
By Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA Africa