Chief Felix Akiga canvasses for establishment of Basketball Academy in ABU
Chief Felix Akiga has proposed for the establishment of a world-class Basketball Academy in Ahmadu Bello University.
The proposal, according to him, would be in collaboration with former NBA players and other professionals.
Akiga, a professional basketball player, is the Chairman of Royal Choice Inn, a hotel located right inside the Samaru Campus of the university in Zaria.
He spoke when he led the hotel’s management team on a courtesy visit to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed.
Chief Akiga emphasized the need to identify and train basketball talents from an early age and that the academy could target students as young as 10 years old.
“Gone are the days when players start learning basketball at 20. To produce globally competitive athletes, we must nurture them from childhood.
“The proposed academy will leverage the university’s existing secondary school and tertiary institutions to create a seamless pathway for young athletes.
“Students enrolled in the academy will benefit from full scholarships for secondary and university education, work-study opportunities to support their development and professional coaching from ex-NBA players and experienced trainers.
“This initiative comes at no cost to the university but will position ABU as a hub for basketball excellence in Nigeria,” Chief Akiga said.
In addition to the sports development plan, Chief Akiga announced a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention to rehabilitate one of the busiest roads on campus, stretching from the Fountain Roundabout to the Pharmacy Roundabout.
“We selected this road due to its current state and high traffic volume. Improving it will ease movement for students, staff, and visitors,” he explained.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, expressed gratitude for the proposals and described them as “timely and transformative.”
“This aligns with our ongoing efforts to revitalize sports in ABU, spearheaded by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Ahmed Doko Ibrahim,” he said.
Prof Ahmed commended Chief Akiga’s long-standing relationship with the university and assured him of the management’s commitment to reviewing and supporting the proposals.
The initiative promises to elevate ABU’s sports profile while improving campus infrastructure, marking another milestone in town-and-gown collaboration.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (IDV)
Friday, 20th June, 2025
