One of the top aspirants for the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s (NBBF) presidency at the forthcoming NBBF elections, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, has promised to use his over 20-year experience in the game to lead the sport to better times.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria’s director-general said that the game needs stronger institutions, better player welfare and a clearer route from grassroots participation to professional competition.

Abdullahi said his experience as a player and grassroots investor has shown him the gap between the potentials of young Nigerian athletes and the structures available to support their development.

He believes the National Sports Commission’s renewed emphasis on the sports economy offers an opportunity to address some of those weaknesses, provided sporting federations translate policy direction into effective administration and sustained investment.

“My vision is to help build a professionally managed federation with stronger domestic leagues, better player welfare, sustainable commercial partnerships and clear development pathways for young athletes,” he said.

Abdullahi, who is also Director of Youth of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, said his interest in the NBBF presidency was rooted in a longstanding commitment to basketball and the belief that effective leadership could help the sport realise more of its potential.

His playing experience includes Nigeria’s domestic leagues, university competitions and the national youth setup, as well as Trafford Basketball Club in Manchester.

His involvement has extended to grassroots development through the DAM Foundation, which he said had constructed a basketball court in Kano, organised competitions in Okene and supported an academy serving more than 500 children.

The initiatives have exposed him to difficulties facing young players who lack suitable facilities, regular competitions and access to professional coaching.

Abdullahi said providing a court or organising a competition could make a significant difference to an aspiring athlete, but he cautioned that individual investments could not replace the need for a coordinated development system.

“We need stronger institutions capable of coordinating grassroots development, supporting clubs and creating pathways into professional sports,” he said.

For basketball, he said, such a system would require closer cooperation among state associations, clubs, coaches and other stakeholders, alongside stronger domestic leagues and improved welfare arrangements for players.

He also identified commercial sustainability as a priority, arguing that sporting federations needed transparent financial systems, clear development plans and measurable performance objectives.

The broader policy context is President Bola Tinubu’s restructuring of sports administration through the restoration of the National Sports Commission.

Abdullahi said the move had created an opportunity to give sports administration greater technical focus and promote private investment, while the leadership of Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade had placed greater emphasis on developing the sports economy and strengthening institutions.

However, he maintained that the success of the reforms would depend on implementation across sporting federations and at grassroots level.