Kaduna State Basketball Association Chairman Ahmed Tijjani has challenged whoever emerges in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation elections to make reconciliation a priority, insisting Nigerian basketball cannot reach its potential while stakeholders remain divided.

The NBBF Elective Congress is scheduled for October 15, 2026 in Abuja, when a new board for the 2026–2030 cycle is expected to emerge. The timetable was unanimously approved at the federation’s Extraordinary Congress in Yola, attended by 39 of 44 accredited delegates.

For Tijjani, however, electing new officials will mean little unless the incoming leadership succeeds in bringing together a basketball community that has endured years of administrative disagreements.

The Kaduna basketball chief wants aspirants to look beyond the contest for positions and concentrate on restoring stability, expanding competitions and creating opportunities for young players.

His intervention carries particular weight given Nigerian basketball’s recent history. The federation has previously endured damaging leadership disputes, including the crisis surrounding the 2021 electoral process, when the then Sports Ministry suspended an elective congress because of what it described as lingering factionalisation.

Tijjani believes the next administration must leave that culture behind.

He has also called for a stronger grassroots programme, particularly through schools and age-grade competitions, arguing that basketball can provide opportunities for young Nigerians while creating a sustainable talent pipeline for the national teams.

“We want to get basketball to every level and every age-grade level so we can engage these kids,” Tijjani said recently while speaking for North-West basketball stakeholders.

He also wants greater opportunities created for girls and believes whoever takes control of the federation should build on existing achievements rather than begin another cycle of internal battles.

The October election will mark the end of Musa Kida’s tenure, with the incumbent confirming that he will not seek a third term and promising a free and transparent transition. Elections for players, technical and other affiliate representatives are scheduled between October 7 and 14 before the main congress.

Several interests are already gathering around the race, including former D’Tigers star Ejike Ugboaja and Energy Commission of Nigeria Director-General Mustapha Abdullahi, increasing attention on the direction the federation will take after October 15.

For Tijjani, though, the first assignment for whoever wins is bigger than an electoral victory: Bring Nigerian basketball together, end the cycle of conflict and make development rather than division, the defining story of the next NBBF administration.

Plateau State University, Bokkos has created viable investment opportunities in agriculture, energy, manufacturing and technology through sustained investment in research and development.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shedrack Best, disclosed this on Wednesday during the University’s 2nd Inaugural Lecture.

Professor Best said PLASU has transitioned from its early stages to an advanced institution with strong capacity in teaching, research and innovation, and invited investors across all sectors to partner with the University in its ongoing expansion.

“PLASU is beyond a baby university at this stage. What we are giving the people of Plateau State is a university befitting of their standing. We don’t want to be ranked behind any state university in the North. There is no justification for that,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

He noted that the lecture, titled “An Exposé on the Global South: 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities,” underscores PLASU’s alignment with global trends in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for investors in the private sector, agriculture and many other areas to partner with PLASU. The focus on the Global South shows you can have AI that appreciates and works with humanity to improve life,” he said.

“With respect to today’s lecture, artificial intelligence, machine learning and all of these are present in our University. We are delighted to celebrate a professor who has worked and taught in computer science and artificial intelligence. The moment PLASU has keyed into it, the entire Plateau State is in tandem with what is happening in the ICT world. We are part of a global community,” Best added.

The Vice-Chancellor further stated that the University has begun producing its own professors, with over ten professors of PLASU extraction so far.

“The tradition of inaugural lectures is associated with universities worldwide. When academics reach the pinnacle of their careers, they present a summation of their teaching, research and community service. We want to open the space for our professors to give their inaugural lectures. What we have had today will be replicated. We have other professors lined up and I envisage we will have two to three more before the close of this year, and more in 2027 based on the ongoing appraisal,” he said.

On expansion, Professor Best said, “When I came, I met five faculties at 100 level trying to settle down. These five faculties are now transiting to 400 level. We have introduced two new faculties now transiting to 200 level, and 16 new programmes about to commence at 100 level. More than that is the development of staff strength and quality.”

He credited the Visitor to the University and the government and people of Plateau State for the growth.

Delivering the lecture, Guest Lecturer, Prof. Luhutyit Peter Damuut of the Computer Science Department at PLASU highlighted opportunities in Artificial Intelligence for communities in the Global South, particularly within academia.

“My choice of topic is guided by global trends and my research field. I have been in this field since 2005. AI has been with us in different forms. We started out and most of the things we were working on evolved into AI today. AI has its roots in computer science. AI found us and now it’s here to live with us. We have to embrace it, work with it and explore the opportunities in it while containing the challenges, especially those peculiar to us within the Global South,” Damuut said.

Signed:

Masara Kim,

Acting PuMasara Kim,
Acting Public Relations Officer Plateau State University, Bokkos

Related