By Wakawaka Sports
The leadership of the Imo State Basketball Association has begun efforts to reposition basketball in the state with plans to unveil a comprehensive long-term development agenda designed to revive the sport from the grassroots to the professional level.
The Chairman of the Imo State Basketball Association, Hon. Johnbosco Okeahialam, paid a courtesy visit to the Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, and the Director of Sports, Lady Justina Apulo, to discuss a sustainable roadmap for the growth and development of basketball in the state.
Speaking during the meeting, Hon. Okeahialam said the association is determined to move away from the era of one-off basketball programmes by introducing a structured and sustainable development model that will benefit players, coaches, officials, schools and clubs across the state.
According to him, the proposed framework will focus on grassroots talent discovery, player development, coaches’ education, regular competitions and the growth of the professional game, while creating a product capable of attracting corporate organisations, sponsors, philanthropists and basketball stakeholders from across Nigeria.
He stressed that the association’s vision is to build a basketball ecosystem with clear objectives, implementation strategies and measurable outcomes that will ensure continuity and long-term success.
Hon. Okeahialam also emphasized the need to upgrade basketball facilities in the state to meet modern standards. He noted that improved facilities would encourage families, basketball enthusiasts and high-net-worth individuals to attend and support competitions, thereby enhancing the commercial value of the sport in Imo State.
Accompanied by the Media Manager of the South East and Imo State Basketball Association, Kennedy Onwunali, the state coach victor oguguo. the chairman also inspected various basketball facilities at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, as part of efforts to assess their current condition and identify areas requiring immediate attention.
The Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, commended the new leadership for its vision and commitment to revitalising basketball in the state. He assured the association of the ministry’s support in achieving its developmental objectives.
The commissioner also congratulated Hon. Okeahialam on his recent successful civil wedding in London and wished him a happy and fruitful married life.
The renewed drive by the Imo State Basketball Association is expected to usher in a new era for basketball in the state, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the planned reforms will restore Imo’s status as one of Nigeria’s leading basketball hubs.
