Young Nigerians Trained as Future Basketball Referees

The FCT Basketball Caretaker Committee, chaired by Ez Ifeanyi Ek, has launched an initiative to train young Nigerians as basketball referees to address the growing shortage of officiating personnel in the sport. The program, which targets students passionate about basketball, aims to build careers in officiating and change perceptions about refereeing, particularly among retired players.

The initiative has drawn participants from various states, including Kano, Kogi, Enugu, and Benue, reflecting a nationwide interest in basketball officiating. At the end of the training program, successful trainees received certificates.

Prof. DC Lucki Abubakar, the founder of the Amateur Basketball Academy, emphasized that the program is designed to create career opportunities for young people and sustain the game by introducing younger referees and coaches.