The Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Humanity Hood Basketball Tournament, Abubakar Yusuf, has called for increased investment, sponsorship and collaboration to promote female basketball and strengthen grassroots sports development in Nigeria.

Yusuf, a former basketball player who is now a coach, made the call during the Humanity Hood Basketball Tournament, which featured young female players from different parts of Northern Nigeria. Blueprint reports

The tournament was preceded by a four-day camp focused on skill acquisition, intensive training and player development, providing participants with an opportunity to improve their abilities and gain exposure beyond their immediate communities.

Creating opportunities for the girl child

Yusuf said his personal experience as a young basketball player was not entirely encouraging, noting that the challenges he encountered while growing up in the sport motivated him to establish a platform that would provide better opportunities for the younger generation.

He said the girl child was particularly neglected at the grassroots level, including in sports, stressing that the tournament was created to keep young girls active while helping them discover and develop their talents.

According to him, the response to the initiative had been encouraging, with players drawn from Abuja, Kano, Niger, Kaduna and Zaria.

Nine teams participated in the competition, giving the young players an opportunity to compete against peers from different backgrounds and test the skills acquired during the training camp.

Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded by the participants, saying the organisers were committed to ensuring that every player benefited from the experience.

He also disclosed that discussions were ongoing with a potential co sponsor on an agreement that would further strengthen and expand the tournament.

The founder called on corporate organisations, individuals and other stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that sustainable investment was necessary to give more young girls access to quality training and competitive opportunities.

ABU offers educational opportunity

Yusuf also commended the support received from the Sports Director and Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), saying the university authorities had demonstrated commitment to combining sports development with educational opportunities.

He disclosed that the Vice Chancellor had promised admission opportunities for participating girls who score 180 and above in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

The initiative, he said, demonstrated how sports could be used alongside education to empower young people and create pathways for their future.

He added that all participants in the tournament would be recognised and rewarded for their efforts.

Veteran recalls basketball journey

Professor Aminu Ladan, a staff member of Kaduna State University and a basketball veteran, expressed delight that the basketball clubs he and other pioneers established more than three decades ago were still contributing to the development of the sport.

Ladan commended the players, coaches and Sports Director of ABU for their efforts towards sustaining basketball development alongside other sporting activities.

He said sustained investment in sports could contribute significantly to the development of educational institutions and the country’s wider sporting sector.

According to him, the continued growth of grassroots basketball demonstrates the importance of creating structures that allow young athletes to develop their talents from an early age.

Nnaji backs female basketball

Basketball coach Scott Nnaji also expressed excitement over the organisation of a competition dedicated exclusively to female players in Northern Nigeria.

Nnaji said initiatives such as the Humanity Hood Basketball Tournament would expose young girls to opportunities within the sports industry and encourage them to consider basketball and other sporting disciplines as viable career paths.

He stressed that competitions at the grassroots level could help identify talented players who might otherwise remain undiscovered.

Players call for more competitions

One of the participants, Promise Salem from Kaduna, described the four day camp as an exciting and rewarding experience.

She said the training and exposure provided female players with an opportunity not only to improve their basketball skills but also to interact, learn and understand developments within the wider sporting community.

Salem called for more competitions of the same nature, saying regular tournaments would expose girls to opportunities in sports and encourage parents to support their daughters in developing their talents.

Another participant, Nafisa Adams, identified sponsorship, conducive sporting facilities, committed coaches, media coverage and publicity as key areas that required greater attention.

Adams said improved publicity would help identify more grassroots talents and bring them to the attention of scouts, clubs and other opportunities within the sports industry.

She commended the organisers for establishing the championship, describing it as a positive step towards the broader development of sports.

Grassroots development key to sports growth

A player, Jennifer Phillip, said the tournament and training camp had helped improve her confidence and given her a better understanding of basketball.

Also speaking, sports analyst Yusuf Binta Fatima stressed the importance of grassroots development to the growth of sports in Nigeria.

Fatima noted that young girls today have access to opportunities that were not readily available during her playing days, urging the participants to take advantage of the platforms being created for them.

She encouraged the players to remain committed to their training and education while making good use of opportunities provided through competitions such as the Humanity Hood Basketball Tournament.

The participating teams included The Sun, Real Ones, Team Abuja and ABU, among others, bringing together young female basketball players from different parts of Northern Nigeria.

The organisers said the tournament would continue to focus on discovering, developing and promoting young female basketball talents while creating opportunities for participants to pursue careers in sports, education and personal development.