Igoche Mark preaches unity as key to reviving Nigerian basketball

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

Foremost basketball promoter and initiator of the Mark”D” Ball Championship, Mr. Igoche Mark, has appealed for unity among Nigerian basketball stakeholders, describing it as the surest way to revive the game in the country.

While urging the stakeholders to set aside personal agenda and interest for the growth of the sport, Mark attributed the major obstacles hindering basketball’s progress in the country to internal conflicts and lack of cohesion.

“Currently, one of our biggest problems is internal fighting, and lack of unity. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Nigeria basketball stakeholders need to come together and put aside personal agendas,” he said.

Pledging determination to spearhead efforts to unite basketball stakeholders, he stressed that the common goal that should bind everyone involved in the sport.

“No doubt, we all have something in common, which is passion for basketball, irrespective of our differences. This is me saying, let’s put aside all our differences and come together in one voice in order to advance the sport.

“We have a whole lot more to contribute; we need to put down a structure to guide, and we need to focus on development. There is a need to close that disparity between our prowess on the international scene and that of our domestic league,” he stated.

Mark, who equally called for immediate action, promised to lead efforts to bring stakeholders to the table, stressing: “Going forward, we need to talk, we need to start mending fences for basketball to make progress.”

Other panelists on the show, comprising Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Board Member and Olympian, Olumide Oyedeji, and basketball promoter Ugo Udueze, also re-echoed Mark’s sentiments, agreeing that a united front is essential for the advancement of Nigerian basketball.

The consensus among the speakers underscores a growing recognition that without unity and collaboration, Nigerian basketball will struggle to realize its full potential, both domestically and on the international stage.