NBBF President, Engr. Musa Kida, Hails D’Tigress on Prestigious New Telegraph Award; Dedicates Honor to National Resilience

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The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has expressed profound pride and gratitude following the conferment of the Special Recognition Award on the Female National Basketball Team, the D’Tigress, at the 2025 New Telegraph Awards.

The prestigious award, which recognizes the team’s unprecedented dominance and trailblazing exploits in African sports, was received on behalf of the President by the NBBF Vice President, Mr. Babatunde Ogunade, during a grand ceremony held at the Oriental Hotels in Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a statement released following the ceremony, Engr. Kida lauded the Board of Editors and the Panel of Judges of the Daily Telegraph Publishing Company for identifying the D’Tigress as icons of excellence. He noted that the recognition is a sign of the team’s decade-long consistency, which has seen them secure five consecutive AfroBasket titles, including the historic 2025 victory in Abidjan where they defeated Mali 78–64 to extend their unbeaten continental run to 29 games.

“This award is more than just a trophy; it is a validation of the ‘Mission V’ spirit, a journey defined by resilience, tactical brilliance, and an unwavering commitment to the green-and-white flag by all,” Engr. Kida stated.

“Under this administration, we have focused on seamless transitions and elite-level execution, propelling the D’Tigress to become the first African team to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympics and break into the global top 10 rankings”.

The NBBF President also extended special appreciation to the coaching staff led by Rena Wakama, voted the best coach of the 2024 Olympic Games, and the players, including tournament MVP Amy Okonkwo, for their roles in redefining African basketball on the world stage.

Engr. Kida reaffirmed the Federation’s dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sports reform agenda, emphasizing that such accolades serve as a catalyst for further investment in the sector. With the D’Tigress already securing a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament, the NBBF remains committed to sustaining this golden era of Nigerian basketball.