Basketball stakeholder and Founder of Mark Mentors Basketball Club, Abuja, Mark Igoche, has officially declared his intention to contest for the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), ahead of the expiration of the current board’s tenure in January 2026.
Igoche made his intentions known as the tenure of the NBBF board led by Musa Kida approaches its end on January 31, 2026, positioning himself as a candidate driven by reform, structure and long-term development.
“Nigeria has everything needed to be a global basketball force — talent, passion and numbers. What we need now is proper leadership and structure,” Igoche said.
The Mark Mentors founder, whose club has become a consistent force in Nigerian basketball, expressed confidence that his grassroots experience gives him a clear understanding of the challenges facing the sport.
“I have worked at the foundation level. I understand what players, coaches and clubs go through, and I believe the system can work better,” he added.
Igoche noted that Nigeria’s population and youthful demographic offer enormous potential, but stressed that poor planning and weak administration have limited progress.
“We have one of the largest talent pools in Africa. If we organise properly, Nigeria can dominate basketball on the continent and compete globally,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of sustainable domestic leagues, transparent governance and improved player development pathways.
“Basketball development cannot rely on shortcuts. We must build leagues, empower clubs and invest in youth programmes,” Igoche stated.
The prospective NBBF president pledged to promote inclusiveness, accountability and professionalism if elected, insisting that Nigerian basketball must move away from crisis-driven administration.
“We need stability and long-term planning, not emergency solutions,” he noted.
Igoche also called for better collaboration between stakeholders, including clubs, sponsors and government agencies.
“Basketball will grow faster when everyone is carried along. Leadership must unite the game, not divide it,” he said.
As the NBBF election draws closer, Igoche’s declaration adds momentum to what is expected to be a keenly contested race, with Nigerian basketball stakeholders watching closely for a clear vision that can unlock the sport’s vast potential.
