By Tayo Ogunseye
Lagos-based basketball referees have received a boost following the donation of specially designed officiating uniforms by Opeyemi Babalola, popularly known as Webber, as he charged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
Babalola, Chief Executive Officer of Webber Hoops and Courts, made the donation on Saturday, November, presenting the Lagos Basketball Referees Council with quality uniforms featuring African-inspired motifs.
The uniforms, which come in two different designs for referees and table officials, are the first of their kind for the Lagos-based officials and also feature the Nigerian flag.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Babalola expressed appreciation to the council’s executive committee and members for finding him worthy of serving as their patron.
He, however, challenged the referees to maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“I make this demand of you today, and that is that you maintain the high level of professionalism in this job. Integrity resonates well with your job.”
Explaining the inclusion of the Nigerian flag in the uniform design, Babalola noted that some members of the council were already international referees and urged them to represent the country with distinction.
“The Nigerian flag is a part of the design because we know some of you are already international umpires, and we expect you to be real ambassadors, dishing out excellence when on the court.
“Prepare yourself now for the bigger stage because it is within your reach. Soon you could be officiating in halls with more than 10,000 spectators, international media and spectators,” he added.
The Webber Hoops Chief also called on stakeholders in Nigerian basketball to work towards making the game more attractive and accessible to a wider audience.
He cited Webber Engineering’s involvement in the Basketball Experience for School Sports as part of efforts to expand the reach of the sport.
Earlier, Chairman of the Lagos Basketball Referees Council, Kehinde Olubunmi, welcomed Babalola and expressed the council’s appreciation for his support and sponsorship.
Olubunmi described the new uniforms as more than just official clothing, saying they represented the identity, values, dedication and heritage of the referees.
“We thank you for standing with us, especially with your sponsorship. Our uniform is not just a piece of clothing but a symbol of value, dedication, identity, and heritage.
“As we celebrate this milestone, let us all also work towards a stronger council,” he said.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for members of the basketball community to celebrate Babalola’s contributions to the development of the game.
Media consultant Pius Ayinor, a friend of Babalola and the referees, highlighted the growth of Webber Hoops over the past decade, recalling the company’s contribution to basketball infrastructure in Africa.
He recalled that Webber uprights were extensively used during the African Basketball League in Abidjan in 2016/2017, describing it as a proud moment for Nigerian-made equipment.
“It was largely Webber uprights that we used in Abidjan in 2016/2017 for the African Basketball League, and I was very proud that a Nigerian product was a major piece of equipment on the court. Over the years, they have continued to grow, exporting the same to many other African countries,” Ayinor said.
Basketball coach and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Solomon Martins, also recalled how Webber contributed to the upgrading of their basketball court, noting that the introduction of modern uprights marked a significant improvement.
“We were using wooden uprights, as everything basketball had to be imported until Webber came on board. Our leader then called him in and for the first time we changed to a modern upright,” Martins said.
A former chairman of the council, Salau Songito, described Babalola as the patron the referees had long hoped to have and urged members to sustain high standards in their profession.
“We thank God that we finally found the real patron we had been looking for. To the referees, I say, let’s continue to maintain very high standards,” Songito said.
Meanwhile, the council’s Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Mary, disclosed that the donation was the fulfilment of an idea that started as a casual discussion by the basketball court.
The event ended on a note of fellowship among the referees, their patron and other friends of the game, celebrating a partnership expected to further strengthen basketball officiating in Lagos.
