…Elder Toba Shinkaye to chair the Local Organizing Committee of the Championship
By Maxwell Kumoye
One of the most productive and prestigious slamming and dunking nursery on the continent of Africa – Warriors Basketball Academy has been selected to host the maiden edition of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Academies Championship.
The FIBA Africa Zone 3 Academies Championship is an initiative aimed at fostering grassroots basketball development within the region.
In a letter dated February 12, 2025, and signed by Elder Toba Shinkaye, Vice Chairman of the Warriors Management Committee, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) was formally notified of the academy’s intention to stage the tournament.
The competition stems from a resolution reached during a recent FIBA Africa Zone 3 meeting, where stakeholders emphasized the need for greater investment in youth basketball within the region.
The President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Retired Colonel Samuel Ahmedu, said the tournament is a strategic move to enhance basketball development at the academy level.
“FIBA Africa has encouraged all seven zones under its jurisdiction to implement programs that will further grow the game. As a result, the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Board identified the Academies Tournament as a key initiative to achieve this objective,” Ahmedu stated.
The tournament is scheduled to run from the 4th to the 8th of July 2025 at the Warriors Basketball Court in Ilupeju, Lagos.
In a bid to stage a hitch free Championship, the Warriors Basketball Management Committee has put together an 11-member Local Organizing Committee (LOC), to be chaired by Elder Toba Shinkaye.
The Committee include:
✓ Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Representative
✓ Babara Harper – Chairman, LSBBA
✓ Babalola Opeyemi – Webber Engineering
✓ Tosin Beredugo – Ilupeju Vets
✓ Gbenga Jetawo – Ilupeju Vets
✓ Phillip Braide
Media and corporate engagement will be handled by Blessing Nwosu of Silverbird TV while Simon Evbonwa is charged with technical and venue matters.
Adeola Ajayi – AOA Projects and a Warriors Alumnus is also on the Committee while seasoned journalist, Joseph Apu is the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Representative as well as Secretary to the Committee.
Eight academies will compete for at the 5 day event with each of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Member Associations will be represented by an academy.
