Igoche Mark hails Tinubu’s sports reforms
By Trust Ittai
Nigeria’s sports sector may be on the cusp of a renaissance, according to basketball promoter and founder of the Mark D’ Ball Basketball Championship, Igoche Mark, who has described the current reforms as a “breath of fresh air” for the nation’s sporting landscape.
Mark, a prominent stakeholder in grassroots and elite basketball development, applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he termed a deliberate and strategic push to reposition sports as a key driver of national development.
“It is refreshing to know that Nigeria's sports landscape is undergoing a significant transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration,” Mark said.
He referenced the President’s recent public statements acknowledging the role of sports in nation-building and pledging increased budgetary allocation as well as timely release of funds for sporting activities.
Central to the reform drive is the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), a policy thrust aimed at transforming sports into a viable economic engine.
According to Mark, the initiative signals a shift from viewing sports purely as recreation to recognizing it as a platform for job creation, tourism growth, investment inflow and enhanced global influence.
“The government has identified key areas for development, including infrastructure rehabilitation, grassroots engagement, and elite athlete development,” he noted.
He added that the National Sports Commission is already championing practical steps, including the rehabilitation of key facilities and the scientific development of elite athletes.
Demonstrating his support, Mark disclosed that he personally wrote to the President on February 10, 2026, commending him for prioritizing the sports sector and encouraging him to sustain the momentum.
“I immediately wrote personally to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on February 10, 2026, thanking him and urging him to continue in that light,” he revealed.
Beyond government action, Mark called on the corporate sector to seize emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s sports industry.
He described the country’s national teams as powerful commercial brands capable of attracting sponsorship and driving self-sufficiency.
He specifically highlighted the Nigeria national football team, Nigeria women's national football team, Nigeria men's national basketball team and Nigeria women's national basketball team, as well as the Nigeria national cricket team, noting that these teams possess significant brand value.
“These brands ought to be self-sustained, thereby freeing up logistics for grassroots sports development,” Mark said, emphasizing that private investment at the top tier would ease financial pressure and allow more focus on nurturing young talents across the country.
With a blend of government commitment and private sector participation, Mark believes Nigeria’s sports industry can experience exponential growth.
“As Nigeria's sports evolution gains momentum, the private sector can play a vital role in unlocking the sector's potential.
It is only then Nigeria sports can progress in a geometric progression,” he concluded.
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