By Yusuf A Yusuf
The Dam Foundation on Thursday launched a three-day basketball championship at its Recreation Center in Kano, in a move aimed at boosting grassroots sports development in the region.
The foundation, led by Abdullahi Mustapha, a former basketball player and current Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, said the initiative is designed to provide a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and gain exposure to professional opportunities.
Represented by Umar Mohammed Bashir at the event, Mustapha explained that the championship, which debuted in 2022 in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, has now been extended to Kano as part of the foundation’s youth development and community outreach efforts.
He said the competition draws aspiring basketball players from across the seven states of Nigeria’s Northwest zone and beyond, offering them the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and pursue careers in the sport.
According to him, players’ performances are being recorded and shared on digital platforms to enable scouts and agents to identify and recruit promising talents.
Mustapha further disclosed that the foundation has invested hundreds of millions of naira in the construction of a modern recreational facility in Kano to support sports development.
The facility includes a standard basketball court equipped with lighting systems and was completed within a short period.
The championship has attracted 12 teams, comprising eight male and four female teams, competing for prizes valued at over ₦14 million.
In the male category, the winners will receive $5,000, while the first and second runners-up will get $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. In the female category, the winning team will earn $1,500, while the runners-up will receive $500.
