Basketball
Abuja, April 23, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has said it would roll out its programmes for the year 2018 on Thursday in Lagos.
Secretary-General of the federation, Chimezie Asiegbu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that upon the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, the NBBF was now ready to reveal its activities for the year.
“This week (on Thursday) we are rolling out the NBBF programmes, including plans for the premier basketball league, National Divisions 1 and 2 and the women’s league.
“The Commonwealth Games is over and we have all settled down now and are ready to hit the group running.
“By Thursday, you will get to know all our plans for the year, including plans for the next round of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and everything else,” Asiegbu said.
NAN reports that with the unveiling of NBBF’s programmes, the Divisions 1 and 2 leagues conducted by the Tijani Umar-led group in March might have been nullified.
The championships ended on Sunday, March 18 in Ilorin, with Abuja All Stars and Showtime Hoopers winning the Division 1 and Division 2 leagues respectively.
Confirming the development to NAN on Monday, NBBF media officer, Oni Afolabi, said the immediate task before the federation was the unveiling of its activities.
“What is currently in the offing is the rolling out of the NBBF programmes, which takes place on Thursday.
“The rolling out of programmes involves our plans for the various basketball leagues as well as partnerships and other activities,” Oni emphasised.
He however debunked a report making the rounds that the federation was planning to organise an extraordinary AGM soon.
“It is not true that the NBBF is planning an extraordinary Annual General meeting anytime soon. The information definitely didn’t emanate from the NBBF.
“However, there are plans to have the AGM to ratify a new constitution but no date has been fixed yet.
“I can assure you that the constitution drafting committee is working quietly to come up with a constitution.
“As soon as that is done, there will be an AGM so that stakeholders can come together to deliberate on the provisions of the draft constitution and ratify it.”
The NBBF had, through its secretary-general, informed NAN on March 29 that elections into the board of the federation would be conducted as soon as a new constitution was drafted.
He said it was only proper for the NBBF to fully comply with the directive of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). (NAN)
KIA/DE/MZA
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Maharazu Ahmed