Minna, May 26, 2026
The Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) has conducted a one-day coaches’ training and development clinic for 20 academy coaches in Minna, Niger State.
The programme, which is a continuation of an earlier edition held in Abuja, brought together grassroots basketball coaches from across the state for capacity building.
The training focused on strengthening the role of academy coaches in nurturing youth talent and improving basketball development at the grassroots level.
Declaring the clinic open, ABA President and Founder, Prof. Aliyu Abubakar, encouraged participants to fully engage with the programme, describing it as part of efforts to reposition basketball development in the country.
Abubakar, who also serves as a Deputy Comptroller with the Nigeria Customs Service, expressed appreciation to stakeholders supporting grassroots sports development.
He said the initiative goes beyond sports, noting that it is aimed at youth empowerment, capacity building, and long-term sporting excellence.
According to him, countries with strong basketball systems invest heavily in grassroots structures, coaching education, mentorship and organised training frameworks.
He explained that the clinic reflects ABA’s commitment to building sustainable pathways for young athletes to excel.
Abubakar added that the organisation’s developmental model and proposed league structure have been well received by sports stakeholders and administrators.
He further stated that the planned ABA League is part of efforts to institutionalise structured grassroots competitions across Nigeria.
Facilitators at the clinic included Coaches Alex Ujoh, Adeka Daudu, Emmanuel Odah and Oyekan, who handled sessions on technical skills, tactical awareness, player development, injury prevention, sports psychology, officiating and leadership.
The programme also featured a practical training session involving more than 150 young basketball players at the gymnasium.
Kayode Adeniyi, Head of Media and Public Relations for ABA, said the clinic is aimed at strengthening grassroots basketball development in the country.
He noted that the organisation remains committed to equipping coaches with modern techniques for talent identification and mentorship.
Adeniyi added that ABA will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to expand grassroots basketball initiatives nationwide.