By Jako Keke, August 9, 2026.
Basketball coaches in Taraba State have been urged to create an enabling environment that will allow young players to develop their talents and achieve excellence in the sport.
The charge was given by the President and Founder of Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA), Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, DC Aliyu Lucky Abubakar, during the flag-off of a coaches' clinic organised by the ABA in collaboration with the Taraba State Basketball Association (TSBA) at the City Mall Conference Hall in Jalingo.
Abubakar said coaches play a critical role in shaping the careers and character of young basketball players, stressing that they must demonstrate diligence, patience, respect and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He expressed concern over the impact of disunity on the development of basketball in Nigeria and called for a change in attitude among stakeholders to move the sport forward.
According to him, the training, tagged “DRIVE,” is designed to strengthen the capacity of basketball coaches in Taraba State, revive interest in the game and produce players capable of representing the state at national and international competitions.
He reminded coaches that players often look up to them as role models, urging them to maintain exemplary conduct both on and off the court.
“Basketball is continuously evolving, and coaches must continue to learn and improve their knowledge to keep pace with current trends in the game,” he said.
The ABA president commended the TSBA for partnering with the academy to train coaches in the state, expressing optimism that the programme would yield tangible results for basketball development in Taraba.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Taraba State Sports Development Commission, Coach Bulus Husseni, described Governor Agbu Kefas as a sports-friendly leader who has created an enabling environment for talent development across the state.
Husseni said the establishment of the Sports Development Commission further demonstrated the governor's commitment to identifying, nurturing and developing sporting talents.
He commended the TSBA for taking steps to improve the capacity of coaches, noting that better-trained coaches would translate into better-developed players.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Taraba State Basketball Association and Member Representing Takum II State Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Tanko Jolly Abubakar, said the clinic was part of efforts to equip coaches with the knowledge and skills required to effectively groom young basketball talents.
He said the training would expose coaches to modern techniques of playing, training and developing players for improved performance.
Abubakar also appreciated Governor Agbu Kefas for his support and the enabling environment provided for basketball and other sporting activities in the state.
Also speaking, the Head of Media and Publicity of the Amateur Basketball Academies, Mr Kayode Adeniyi, said the programme was designed to build the capacity of basketball coaches across Nigeria, rather than focusing solely on the Federal Capital Territory.
Adeniyi disclosed that the ABA team had recently conducted a similar training programme in Benue State and would proceed to Gombe State after completing the Taraba exercise.
He added that tournaments would subsequently be organised to provide coaches across the federation with opportunities to showcase players developed through the training programmes.
One of the participating coaches, Zubairu Audu, Head Coach of Basketball at Taraba State University, Jalingo, commended the organisers for the initiative.
Audu said the clinic would significantly enhance the capacity of coaches and equip them with modern knowledge needed to groom the next generation of basketball talents in Taraba State.
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