Basketball development in Ebonyi State is set to receive a significant boost as South-East representative on the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board, Ugo Udezue, prepares to host a three-day regional basketball tournament aimed at promoting grassroots sports and youth development.
The South-East Basketball Tournament will take place from June 5 to June 7, 2026, at the Ebonyi Shopping Mall in Abakaliki. Teams from the five South-East states—Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, and Abia—are expected to compete in the championship.
Udezue, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of AFA Sports, said the tournament forms part of ongoing efforts to expand basketball opportunities, improve sports infrastructure, and create pathways for young athletes across the region.
Speaking ahead of the event, he expressed concern over the shortage of quality basketball facilities in Ebonyi despite the state’s track record of producing talented players.
According to him, many athletes from Ebonyi have excelled at higher levels, with a substantial number featuring for the Coal City Blazers, the South-East’s only team in Nigeria’s Premier Basketball League..
Udezue emphasized that sports development requires collective action from stakeholders, noting that government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of building and maintaining sporting facilities.
He highlighted previous interventions, including the donation of basketball uprights for the indoor sports hall in Enugu and the construction of a new basketball court in Abakaliki. He also commended sports administrators across the region for their efforts in reviving existing facilities.
A major highlight of the tournament will be the official commissioning of the Hon. Richard Idike Basketball Court, a newly developed facility expected to enhance talent discovery and long-term basketball growth in Ebonyi State.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Richard Idike, will attend the event as Special Guest of Honour and is expected to formally inaugurate the court.
Udezue stated that the project aligns with a broader vision of strengthening basketball development in the South-East and providing sustainable opportunities for young players to build careers in the sport.
The tournament is expected to attract coaches, sports administrators, basketball enthusiasts, and other stakeholders from across the region, further positioning Ebonyi State as an emerging hub for basketball development in Nigeria.
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