DAM Foundation Steps Up Grassroots Basketball Support - Punch Newspapers
The DAM Foundation has intensified its support for grassroots basketball through infrastructure, competitions and welfare programmes aimed at creating opportunities for young players across Nigeria. The foundation, associated with Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, said sustained investment in grassroots development was necessary to build a strong pipeline for future Nigerian basketball players. Abdullahi, who has been involved in basketball for more than a decade—first as a player and later as a supporter of grassroots initiatives—said challenges facing the sport at the elite level could not be addressed without developing young talents. He said young players needed access to functional facilities, regular competitions, mentorship and other opportunities to develop their abilities. Abdullahi’s involvement in basketball predates his appointment as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. He previously played for teams in Kano State and supported basketball clubs and communities at the grassroots. In Kano, he supported the construction of a basketball court and sponsored a tournament, including the logistics required to stage the competition. The foundation also organises an annual basketball championship in Okene, Kogi State, every December. Kano anti-graft chair quits, acting successor emerges Tinubu unveils four-year action plan to end child labour Court orders ex-NICON directors to disclose seven-year transactions He said Nigeria needed a stronger system for identifying, developing and retaining young basketball talents if the country was to make sustained progress in the sport. According to the foundation, the Okene championship provides players with an avenue to compete, gain experience and attract attention, while also bringing communities together through basketball. Its interventions extend beyond the court to include scholarships, medical assistance, business grants, employment facilitation and welfare support for young people and vulnerable members of communities. In Abuja, Abdullahi has also supported the Great Vibes Basketball Foundation, with assistance covering players’ welfare and personal challenges. The foundation said its approach recognises that athlete development involves more than sporting performance, with player welfare also requiring attention. Abdullahi has also identified infrastructure as a critical component of grassroots development, saying functional courts provide young people with spaces to train, compete and improve their skills. He said grassroots basketball should not be viewed solely as a pathway to elite sport but also as a platform for youth engagement, education, employment and other productive opportunities. Kindly share this story:
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