Nigeria Basketball Federation presidential aspirant Igoche Mark says his ambition to lead the NBBF is driven by his passion for basketball and his desire to strengthen the sport’s development across the country.
Mark, promoter of the Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship, is positioning himself for the federation’s forthcoming leadership contest as uncertainty continues around the transition from the current NBBF board.
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Explaining his motivation, Mark said the election should be centred on what candidates can contribute to Nigerian basketball rather than financial strength or political influence.
“It’s not about who has the money, who has the most people around them or who uses money and power,” Mark said. “It has to be about the passion for the game and someone that all basketball stakeholders can collectively agree with.”
Mark points to his previous investment in domestic basketball, particularly the Mark D’Ball Championship, as part of the record he is presenting to stakeholders ahead of the election.
Grassroots development is also central to his stated programme.
“One of the key things I do in basketball is grassroots development because that’s where you find talent. That’s where you find our future champions and future superstars,” he said.
Mark has also identified unity within Nigeria’s often-divided basketball community as a priority should he emerge president.
“The first thing I will do when elected as president of NBBF is to unite the house,” he previously said. “We must come together because a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
The NBBF is currently facing disagreement over its transition process, with the existing board’s tenure reported to run until October 16 and questions remaining over the electoral timetable.
For Mark, however, leadership should ultimately be collective rather than personal.
“Basketball, like other sports, is a team sport,” he said. “It’s about the team winning, not my winning.”
