By Lanre Oloyede
The President of the Nigeria ParaVolley Federation and Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has congratulated Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi on his emergence as President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), urging him to prioritise the development of para-basketball in Nigeria.
Abba Isa also congratulated Ugo Udezue, who was elected Vice-President of the federation, expressing optimism that the new leadership would reposition Nigerian basketball for greater success.
Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), secured 40 of the 48 votes cast at the federation’s elective congress held on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Abba Isa, who participated in the congress as a delegate, described Abdullahi’s emergence as an opportunity to strengthen basketball administration, expand grassroots participation and create more opportunities for talented Nigerian athletes.
In a statement issued by his Director of Media and Communications Strategy, Mr. Lanre Oloyede, the ParaVolley president expressed confidence that Abdullahi would bring his experience and expertise to bear on the development of basketball in the country.
He specifically charged the new NBBF president to prioritise para-basketball development by creating more opportunities for Persons with Disabilities to participate in the sport, identifying emerging talents and providing the necessary support for athletes with disabilities to compete at national and international levels.
Abba Isa emphasised the need for inclusive sports development, noting that basketball administration should provide opportunities for athletes with and without disabilities to develop their talents and contribute to Nigeria’s sporting achievements.
He urged the new leadership to invest in grassroots programmes, improve sporting infrastructure and strengthen domestic competitions, while ensuring better welfare for players, coaches and other stakeholders.
He also commended Abdullahi for his courage, resilience, determination and perseverance throughout the electioneering process, expressing optimism that his administration would improve Nigeria’s competitiveness at continental and international competitions.
The presidential aide further congratulated the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Abdullahi Dikko, and its Director-General, Bukola Olopade, for their efforts towards advancing sports development in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The elections, which produced new leadership for four national sports federations, were followed by the inauguration of the newly elected boards.
The NSC chairman charged the new officials to demonstrate diligence, accountability and commitment to effective administration, while creating an enabling environment for Nigerian athletes to excel at national and international competitions.
At the inauguration, Abdullahi was confirmed as President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, with Rita Mosindi as Secretary-General.
Engineer Samuel Olatunji Jackson emerged President of the Nigeria Arm Wrestling Federation, with Dorathy Okpo Benard as Secretary-General.
Jimi Benson was inaugurated as President of the Nigeria Padel Federation, alongside Israel Inwang as Secretary-General, while Adeyinka Samuel became President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, with Javan Bernard as Secretary-General.
The commission urged the newly inaugurated boards to strengthen their respective sports, improve administration and work towards better performances at major competitions
