GoFundMe: Board Member Blasts NBBF

A board member of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Osita Nwachukwu has said that the GoFundMe account opened by D’Tigers Coach, Mike Brown is confirmation that the Federation wanted to reap from where it didn’t sow.

The former D’Tigers player while reacting to NBBF Press Release on the GoFundMe account said; “The NBBF only has one focus and the focus is about money. They don’t care about the players and development of the game.

“The same person that wrote an illegal document termed as constitution of Nigeria Basketball Federation trying to disenfranchise people from diaspora from being in leadership position or being at the board is the one defending opening a GoFundMe account in diaspora.

He described the setting up of GoFundMe account by the NBBF for Nigerians in diaspora to contribute while disenfranchise them as shameful.
“Come to think of it, the coach of the national team is from the diaspora, all the national team players are from diaspora, the GoFundMe is from the diaspora, money is contributed by Nigerians in diaspora but you disenfranchise them from participating in administration of the game in Nigeria.” This is shameful.

Coach Mike Brown had in April organized a fundraiser on behalf of Friends of Nigerian Basketball Foundation, titled, “Support the Nigerian Men’s Basketball Team”

Since April, a total sum of ($2,780) Two thousand Seven hundred and eighty dollars has been donated from 18 donors with target of One million dollars ($1m).

Article 21 Section 3, Sub-section 3 of NBBF 2019 Statutes, however, disenfranchised the Nigerians in diaspora from the leadership of NBBF. The Article states that no Nigerian is eligible to contest in the NBBF election unless such person has stayed for Nigeria for not less than four years.

The fundraiser according to the statement is to raise funds for the Nigeria senior Basketball team for their preparations ahead of the 2020 Olympic in Tokyo.

The statement on GoFundMe reads;
“Coach Mike Brown is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Friends of Nigerian Basketball Foundation.
Team Nigeria is the only men’s basketball team representing the continent of Africa in the upcoming 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo.

“The Friends of Nigerian Basketball Foundation will raise funds and awareness for this campaign, and we need your support! Your donations will help provide training, travel and organizational support to the FONB program and all contributions are tax deductible. We thank you in advance for your support.

“The Friends of Nigerian Basketball Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized under Delaware law (EIN: 86-3270553). The Foundation has applied with the IRS for tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3). It is anticipated that the application will be approved in the near future. IRS Approval will be retroactive to April 5, 2021.”