The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for successfully organizing the 4th Edition of the Chief of Defence Staff Unity Basketball Championship (South-West Zone).
Comrade Shaibu, who was among the dignitaries present at the grand finale of the championship, praised General Musa for using sports as a platform to promote peace, unity, and youth engagement across the country.
Read Also: Duke Udi, Marco Silva Share Hope: Eagles Must Deliver, Chukwueze Needs Time
He noted that the National Institute for Sports is prepared to partner with the Nigerian Armed Forces in the training and retraining of their athletes and coaches.
“The Chief of Defence Staff is not only a passionate sports enthusiast but also an avid basketball player who understands the unifying power of sports,” Shaibu said. “This championship has strengthened civil-military cooperation, fostered peaceful coexistence in the South-West, and positively engaged the youth during and after the Independence Day celebration.”
He further stated that the initiative aligns with the operational philosophy of both the Defence Headquarters and the National Institute for Sports, which emphasize the use of non-kinetic strategies to promote peace, security, national development, and the growth of the sporting ecosystem.
The 2025 South-West Zone edition of the championship took place from September 30 to October 5, 2025, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
A total of 12 teams participated from across the South-West geopolitical zone, along with two invited teams from neighboring states. The teams included Fountain Basketball Club (Ekiti), Hoops N Read (Lagos), Dodan Warriors Academy (Lagos), Sports Nation 365 Club (Lagos), Ogun Rockets, Ondo Raiders, Osun United, Oluyole Warriors (Oyo), University of Ibadan Club (Oyo), Edo Beads, Delta Force Basketball, and Nigeria Police Force Baton.
The tournament highlighted the power of sports as a tool for unity and peacebuilding while showcasing the growing talent and enthusiasm for basketball across the regions.
