The Abia State Basketball Association has commenced the construction of a hostel at the Umuahia Township Stadium to provide a conducive camping facility for basketball players preparing to represent the state at various competitions.
The Director of Sports, Comrade George Obioma, disclosed this during an interactive session between the Chairmen and Secretaries of the 35 sports associations and the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, held at the Bishop Nwaedo Banquet Hall, BCA Road, Umuahia.
Presenting the Association’s roadmap for basketball development in the state, the Chairman of the Abia State Basketball Association, Mr Victor Ifeanyi Okoro, who also serves as the National Technical Director of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, revealed that the hostel project is progressing steadily. He noted that the Association has already organised a successful 3×3 Open Championship and has developed a comprehensive year-round programme aimed at making basketball the most popular sport in Abia State after football.
Mr Okoro emphasised that women’s basketball would receive unprecedented attention under the new development plan. According to him, the Association intends to organise girls-only competitions, provide scholarship opportunities for talented female players, encourage the development of female coaches, and host women’s basketball tournaments across the state.
He further disclosed that basketball academies would be established to create elite development pathways for talented young players through structured training, education, mentorship, and exposure to high-level competitions. Special focus will be placed on establishing regional academies in the three senatorial zones of the state, supported by holiday camps and talent identification programmes.
Work in progress at the hostel.
Highlighting the importance of grassroots development, Mr Okoro stated that basketball programmes would be introduced in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, as well as community centres, churches, and youth clubs. The initiative will cater for various age categories, including Under-10, Under-13, Under-16, and Under-18 players. Emphasis will be placed on teaching the fundamentals of the game, including dribbling, shooting, passing, footwork, physical fitness, discipline, and teamwork.
Mr Okoro also informed the Commissioner that plans are underway to renovate existing school courts, install portable hoops, repair outdoor facilities, and transform available community spaces into functional basketball centres. The long-term objective, he said, is to ensure that every local government area in Abia State has at least one standard basketball court.
The ambitious development programme underscores the Association’s commitment to grassroots development, talent discovery, infrastructure expansion, and the overall growth of basketball in Abia State.
