Front-Line NBBF Presidential Candidate Igoche Mark Seeks Stakeholders’ Support, Pledges Grassroots Development

Front-Line NBBF Presidential Candidate Igoche Mark Seeks Stakeholders’ Support, Pledges Grassroots Development

By Raphael Ekpang

Abuja (Core Reporters) — A front-line presidential candidate of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Igoche Mark, has called on sports journalists to remain committed to truthful, balanced and constructive reporting, stressing that the media has a critical role to play in the development of sports in Nigeria.

Mark made the call on Friday, September 18, 2026, when he received the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), led by its President, Isaiah Benjamin, at his residence in Abuja.

The meeting was part of Mark’s consultations ahead of the forthcoming NBBF elections, where he is seeking the support of basketball stakeholders for his presidential bid.

The initiator of Mark D Ball Basketball Championship, described sports journalists as the “mouthpiece of sports,” noting that their responsibility goes beyond reporting successes to highlighting failures and areas requiring improvement.

“You play a very vital role because you are the mouthpiece for sports. You cover all sports in Nigeria, and you play a very huge role in reporting if we are doing badly or if we are doing well.

“The report must go both ways. You must report the truth. Even when we are doing bad things, you have to criticise us if we are doing something wrong. That is the only way we can improve,” Mark said.

According to him, Nigerian sports has suffered setbacks over the years despite the country’s enormous sporting talent, which he said could compete successfully at the global level if properly identified, nurtured and supported.

Mark said sports had become a multi-billion-dollar global industry, stressing that Nigeria must develop the structures needed to fully harness the economic and human potential of the sector.

He identified grassroots development as one of his major priorities in basketball, saying the next generation of champions and superstars could only emerge through deliberate investment in young athletes.

“One of the core things I do in basketball is grassroots development because that is where you find the talents. That is where you find our future champions and future superstars,” he said.

He stressed the need for a structured development and education system that would identify young talents early and prepare them for elite competition.

According to Mark, the relatively short competitive lifespan of athletes makes succession planning essential.

“Our champions now cannot remain there forever. By the time they are gone, how do we replace them? If we are able to put our acts together and come up with a proper and structured system, I believe we can raise many more champions,” he said.

Mark also urged sports journalists to “speak truth to power,” saying constructive criticism should not be compromised because of relationships with sports administrators or public officials.

“What is wrong is wrong, and what is right is right. It should not be because I am in a position today and do something wrong, and then you call it right.

“We must be able to speak that truth to power. That is where you play a very vital role in the development of sports in Nigeria,” he added.

On his NBBF presidential ambition, Mark said the election should not be treated as a do-or-die affair but as an opportunity for basketball stakeholders to collectively determine the direction of the sport.

He said his aspiration was driven by his passion for basketball and a desire to build on the achievements of previous administrations while introducing further improvements.

“The past presidents tried their best, but there is room for improvement. We can do better. There is always room for improvement,” Mark said.

He called on basketball stakeholders to unite and focus on the development of the game rather than money, influence or personal interests.

“It is not about who has the money, who has the most people around him or using money and power. It has to be about passion for the game and somebody that the whole basketball stakeholders can collectively agree with,” he said.

Mark said his approach to the election and leadership would be based on inclusiveness, arguing that no individual could successfully run the federation without the cooperation of the wider basketball community.

“The responsibility is too big for one person. It has to be collective. It has to be teamwork.

“Basketball, like other sports, is a team sport. It is about the team winning, not about me winning,” he said.

He also promised continued engagement with the media and encouraged journalists to report both the successes and shortcomings of any future administration to enable corrective measures where necessary.

Earlier, SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin commended Mark’s contributions to basketball development and expressed support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the game in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Benjamin said sports writers had an important responsibility to document and promote positive developments in Nigerian sports while also holding stakeholders accountable.

He noted that several basketball championships, sponsorship initiatives and development programmes had contributed to the growth of the sport, stressing that individuals who had committed their resources and energy to basketball deserved recognition.

He said sports development required stronger domestic competitions, improved opportunities for athletes and greater collaboration among stakeholders.

“For us as sports writers, our journey is strategic. We are committed to doing things that will contribute to the development of sports in Nigeria, and basketball is not an exception,” Benjamin said.

He added that the media would continue to support genuine efforts to develop basketball, irrespective of the individuals behind such initiatives, while maintaining its responsibility to report developments objectively.

Benjamin also expressed readiness for further collaboration with stakeholders in promoting basketball in Nigeria and the diaspora.

He said stronger partnerships between sports stakeholders and the media were necessary to give Nigerian athletes and development programmes the visibility required to attract wider support.

He commended individuals and organisations contributing to basketball development and expressed optimism that sustained collaboration would help advance the sport in Nigeria.