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D’Tigers’ Former Coach Mike Brown Hogs All Headlines, Following Sterling Run With New York Knicks In NBA

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The name of a former head coach of Nigeria’s men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers, is hogging all headlines in United States of America, as Mike Brown has taken the country’s National Basketball Association (NBA) by storm.

Sports247 reports that Brown, who handled D’Tigers from 2020 to 2022, is leading what has been described as an ‘unbelievable’ NBA title charge for New York Knicks, who also have Nigerian-born Ogugua ‘OG’ Anunoby among their best players.

With Anunoby doing well on the court and Brown firing technical details from the sideline, The Knicks’ run through the 2026 NBA play-offs has been majestic and they enacted yet another huge win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Victory for Brown’s team put Cleveland Cavaliers on the brink of elimination and drew The Knicks 48 minutes closer to an NBA Finals return after more than 25 years, thereby making memories of July 7th, 2025 most symbolic – when they hired him as coach.

That came five years after Brown was announced as the head coach of Nigeria’s men’s team on February 5th, 2020 and his latest deal has been filled with great results, leading to The Knicks’ current surge on a remarkable return to NBA coaching for the tactician.

Before now, Brown hadn’t made the championship round from the bench since 2007, being the longest gap for any coach in NBA history, and his future seemed uncertain after he was fired during his third term at Sacramento Kings in the 2024-25 season.

Incidentally, Brown earlier had two stints with The Cavaliers before taking up the job in Nigeria, but he had yet to reach a magical point with any franchise, until a 130-93 Game 4 win on Monday, another blowout in a closeout, and his name is now ringing loud bells.

Headlines now reveal that Brown is the first Knicks’ head coach – since Jeff Van Gundy in 1999 – who would have a chance to compete for the real thing, while many incredible events of the past month – 11 consecutive wins and two straight series sweeps – have set tongues wagging.

The Knicks are also blowing opponents’ doors off by nearly 22 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions, a margin twice as large as either Western Conference finalist, and New York City appears ready to flaunt NBA’s latest champs in the coming month.

Brown, though, appeared ready all along for the pressure that came with NBA Finals, meeting up to great expectations and ready for the challenge of utilising all he has learnt in three decades on various benches into getting results from his squad.

His past reads like a majestic voyage – Washington Wizards (assistant coach), San Antonio Spurs (assistant), Indiana Pacers (assistant), Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors (associate HC) and Sacramento Kings.

Apart from calling technical shots, Brown also knows how to motivate the lads, as he praised his players for remaining determined for success – despite their recent roll call of huge results and reign of success – and he is repeatedly ready to applaud their form in this post-season.

“(It’s) more so about these players, and they want to go try to get a ring. If an opportunity came up, great; if it didn’t, you know, shoot, I felt lucky, blessed, fortunate. I had a good run, you know? I felt that at some point, I’d get another.

“Whether it was a head coach or an assistant coaching position. I just kind of rolled with it. Didn’t think much about it. Obviously, this opportunity came up. You know, from afar, I just felt that this team was ready,” Brown submitted.

Sports247 reports further that, while the route still appears rough heading into the 2026 NBA Finals, Brown can think about what being the first Knicks’ coach to hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy since Red Holzman in 1973 would mean for him.

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Tinubu To Intensify Infrastructure Development Nationwide, Aides Say

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The aides disclosed this at the State House, Abuja, while briefing journalists on their grassroots community engagement activities.

They also serve as zonal directors of the Presidential Campaign Council’s Infrastructure Mobilisation and Sensitisation Directorate.

They highlighted ongoing federal projects in roads, railways, electricity, education, healthcare and agriculture across the six geopolitical zones.

In the North-Central, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Dr Abiodun Essiet, said over 167 kilometres of roads had been completed.

She added that more than 1,207 kilometres were under construction, including the Shendam Bridge, Lafia Bypass and Makurdi–Otukpo–9th Mile Road.

Essiet also cited the Abuja–Lokoja Highway, describing infrastructure development as central to addressing citizens’ needs.

“Some of the reality of what our people are facing is what we are communicating to Mr President,” she said.

She said regular community engagement helped the President understand prevailing economic and social challenges.

“I usually tell people, you think Mr President doesn’t know the price of eggs or bread in the market? He does,” she said.

Essiet added that regular briefings also kept the President and Federal Executive Council members informed about citizens’ concerns.

She cited the Mokwa–Bida Road in Niger, saying its last contract award was 46 years ago.

“The last time that road was given out on contract was 46 years ago. So tell me if that is not the wish of the people,” she said.

She also highlighted fertiliser distribution, tractors, rural markets, solar-powered electricity and educational assistance through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

In the North-West, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai, highlighted reconstruction of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Highway.

He said the project was using concrete pavement technology, alongside other infrastructure and security interventions.

Yakassai also cited the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Kaduna–Kano railway and approved monorail projects for Kaduna and Kano states.

He said the projects would improve transportation, facilitate agricultural trade and stimulate economic activities across the region.

In the South-West, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Moremi Ojudu, highlighted infrastructure development and local government reforms.

She said greater financial autonomy for councils would strengthen grassroots development, support businesses and improve revenue generation.

In the South-East, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Mrs Chioma Nweze, said about 1,000 kilometres of road projects were ongoing.

She cited the Enugu–Onitsha and Enugu–Port Harcourt highways, alongside interventions around the First and Second Niger bridges.

Nweze also highlighted the establishment of the South-East Development Commission and proposed expansion of household gas distribution.

She said the interventions would improve connectivity, address regional development concerns and promote industrial growth.

In the South-South, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Gift Johnbull, identified the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as a major project.

She also cited the East–West Road reconstruction, Benin–Agbor Road interventions and Kaa–Ataba Bridge in Rivers.

Johnbull said improved connectivity would support agriculture, strengthen commerce and improve access to markets and essential services.

She added that the projects would create economic opportunities beyond the oil and gas sector.

In the North-East, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Abdulhameed Abba, highlighted federal interventions in roads, education, healthcare and water resources.

He particularly cited projects linking Akwanga, Jos, Gombe and Biu, saying they would improve connectivity and stimulate regional economic activities.

The presidential aides reaffirmed their support for Tinubu’s development agenda and urged Nigerians to back his re-election bid in 2027. (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

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2027: APC releases supplementary list of presidential campaign council [FULL LIST]

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has released a supplementary list of leadership and membership of the President Bola Tinubu/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, PCC.

The ruling party disclosed this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Wednesday.

The party said that the new list expands the composition of the Council ahead of the 2027 general election.

It added that the supplementary list contains additional appointments of leaders and members across various directorates, sectoral groups, mobilisation structures and operational units of the PCC.

"Our great Party reiterates its commitment to ensuring effective coordination among the various components of the PCC as preparations remain in top gear for the 2027 general election," the party said.

The release of the supplementary list comes as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 polls.

See the full list below:

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2027: APC releases supplementary list of presidential campaign council [FULL LIST]

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