The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has finalized arrangements to hold the maiden edition of the Nigeria U-18 Basketball Championships in the country, in a bid to ensuring that more youths are involved in sports, especially in basketball.
This competitive initiative is solely focused on youth at the grassroots level and will commence with zonal elimination amongst the 36 States of the Federation and FCT between May 27 – 30, 2022.
Winners and first runners-up emerging from the zones will proceed to Abuja for the finals coming up between June 3 and 8, 2022.
To make this realistic, the ministry has called on State Governments to ensure active participation of students and youth in the games so as to build talent development which will go a long way in curbing youth restiveness in the country.
Programs will be made known in the coming weeks on grassroots basketball development with specific focus on Organisation of Basketball Leagues (both Male and Female, including sponsorship), Development of home based coaches with coaching clinics and scientific approach to the Game of Basketball.
Also, seminars, workshops, development of the Referees in line with international standards, encouragement of Basketball Academy in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, working with retired Nigerian basketball stars and active professionals, among others.
It commends President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for its commitment to the development of grassroots sports in the country and assured that it will continue to provide enabling environment for the full implementation of government policies, projects and programmes in line with the policy thrust of the present administration especially as it relates to youth and sports development.
