A three-day basketball camp for girls has successfully concluded in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with participants and organisers calling on the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to roll out sustainable grassroots programmes to deepen the development of the sport across the country.
The camp, held at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, was organised under the Ready Leaders programme and combined basketball skills training with leadership development, sports education and digital literacy.
The initiative brought together 40 young female players from Ogun, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Osun and Oyo states.
At the grand finale, participants were fully kitted with sports trainers, jerseys, kit bags and other incentives valued at millions of naira, marking a memorable close to the intensive training programme.
Former Nigerian international and ex-Duke University player, Onome Akinbode-James, praised the players for their discipline and leadership qualities, noting that the camp had gone beyond basketball.
“The girls demonstrated exceptional leadership skills that will aid their growth, not just as athletes but as future leaders,” Akinbode-James said. “We are committed to ensuring they receive the support they need to succeed in basketball and beyond.”
She also announced plans to develop a structured curriculum that would allow the participants to continue their development after the camp, reinforcing the programme’s long-term vision.
Veteran basketball player, Chief Alabi Adelanwa, described the initiative as a vital step toward reviving basketball at the grassroots level, particularly among girls.
“This initiative is essential for the development of basketball in Nigeria,” Adelanwa said. “I commend the initiator for her commitment to nurturing talent and improving the leadership skills of these young girls.”
Several participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying the camp allowed them to showcase their abilities, gain confidence and learn valuable life skills that would shape their future on and off the court.
With growing calls for institutional backing, stakeholders urged the NBBF to adopt and support similar programmes nationwide to ensure a sustainable pipeline of female basketball talent and leaders for the future.
