Kida's Inauguration by Sunday Dare not Ceremonial But An activation of The NBBF Board

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By Sportsgister

As the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) moves gradually toward its 2026 elective congress, renewed conversations around leadership have, unfortunately, been accompanied by misleading narratives. Chief among them is the erroneous impression that the current NBBF President, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, is angling for a third term in office. This interpretation is inaccurate and detracts from the real issue confronting Nigerian basketball.

The argument before stakeholders is not about tenure elongation or a breach of constitutional limits. Rather, it is about allowing Musa Kida to complete the tenure that lawfully commenced following his inauguration on 6 October 2022 by the then Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare. That inauguration was not ceremonial; it marked the formal recognition and activation of the NBBF board’s term under the prevailing governance framework. Asking that this tenure be allowed to run its full course is consistent with principles of administrative stability and due process.

Since assuming office, Kida has presided over a period widely regarded as one of the most successful in the history of Nigerian basketball. The women’s national team, D’Tigress, has consolidated its dominance on the African continent and elevated Nigeria’s profile globally, culminating in a historic outing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where the team became the first African basketball side to reach the quarter-finals. These achievements did not occur by chance; they were the product of deliberate planning, continuity in leadership, and a federation increasingly aligned with international best practices.

Beyond results on the court, Kida’s tenure has been marked by efforts to stabilize a federation that, for years, was weakened by internal disputes and administrative uncertainty. His emphasis on institutional governance, adherence to a FIBA-recognised constitution, and structured decision-making has helped insulate Nigerian basketball from the recurrent crises that previously stalled its growth. For many observers, interrupting this process midway would risk reopening old fault lines at a time when stability is most needed.

Financial stewardship has also defined this period. In an environment where government subventions to sports federations are often inconsistent, Kida has leveraged personal credibility and corporate relationships to keep national teams active on the international stage. His appointment in 2025 as Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited further underscores his standing as a trusted administrator and has strengthened perceptions of his capacity to attract private-sector confidence to basketball development. This intersection of corporate leadership and sports administration has been viewed by stakeholders as an asset rather than a liability.

At the domestic level, Nigerian basketball has witnessed renewed attention to league structures and grassroots participation. The steady revival of national leagues, improved sponsorship engagement, and growing visibility for women’s basketball and emerging formats such as 3×3 are all indicators of a federation attempting to build sustainably rather than chase short-term acclaim.

It is against this backdrop that the current debate must be properly framed. Allowing Musa Kida to complete his tenure is not an endorsement of perpetual leadership, nor is it a call to suspend constitutional order. It is a reasoned appeal for continuity, fairness, and respect for a term that began legitimately and has delivered measurable progress. History has shown that no matter how well an administrator performs, there will always be interests inclined to undermine success or disrupt momentum. Nigerian basketball must resist that impulse.

As the 2026 elections approach, the focus should remain on safeguarding the gains already made and ensuring a smooth, credible transition when the time truly comes. Stability, not speculation, is what the sport requires. In that context, the case for Musa Kida is simple and unambiguous: let the work he began be completed.