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By: Chinedum Ohanusi

Stakeholders in Nigeria Basketball have again been reminded on the need to embrace enduring peace, and be united behind the single purpose of reversing the  battered image of Nigerian basketball, for it to be able to substantially recoup its lost glory, in the nearest possible time. 

This call was made by the founder and Chief Executive of Pamodzi Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Ituamagbor, in an exclusive chat.

Mr. Ituamagbor's comments, were made in the aftermath of  reports, which he said might have been instigated by those who miscontrued his advocacy for all stakeholders to embrace peace, and allow the sport to thrive onceagain, as passing a vote of convidence on the outgoing President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kida. 

Reacting to the reports, Mr. Ituamagbor urged the stakeholder to accept the fact that after every war, comes a time of reconciliation, for peace to reign, and for development to take centre stage. 

In his words, "the involvement of Pamodzi is driven by pure sporting reasons, and the urge to give basketball in Nigeria, the lift it so deserves; a shot in the arm, that has eluded it badly, in recent years". 

He stressed that the emergence of Pamodzi, and his recent comments, have absolutely nothing to do with taking sides, with any of those legitimately fighting to take control of the nation's basketball; a power tussle he also noted, has weighed down heavily on domestic basketball for about a decade now. 

"If anything, our emergence and the prospect of landing this NNPC Limited partnership, should help bring about the peace and unity, needed to rebut and grow the sport. The players, coaches, referees, and delegates shouldn't be on the receiving end, perpetually", he posited. 

That's the bigger picture we want the stakeholders to see, "and as a reputable corporate entity, driven by our passion to grow all facets of sports in Nigeria, we know we are obliged to work with whoever is the next President of the NBBF, and the board members. Aside from that, we have absolutely nothing doing with the infighting, which we also know, is not unusual, in any human endeavour", he added. 

Mr. Ituamagbor further explained that, Pamodzi had also made strong presentations, aimed at securing  similar partnership deals for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and the revamp of the National Institute for Sports (NIS); and happily there have been no hues or cries coming from both; "but to fully optimize the basketball partnership, a sister outlet, M4S Communications Limited was signed-on,  specifically to produce the live and delayed feeds, and help give basketball in Nigeria more visibility", he concluded. 

Details of the triple partnership deals, signed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited on one hand; and the NBBF, NIS and NPFL on the other; as facilitated by Pamodzi are still sketchy, but will be made public in due course.