Lagos referees Lai Alimi, Olusegun Adekanmbi, Samuel Sofoluwe, Razak Okedeyi, Joseph Patrick alongside Musa Gambo from Kano and FCT referee Opeyemi Ogunleye succesfully are taking part in the FIBA Referee Clinic/examination which starts in Cotonou, Benin Republic from Wednesday  through 17 October, 2014.

The 3-day assessment will see the 7 Nigerian regional referees join their other African colleagues to be tested on the newly revised 2014 Official Basketball rules approved by the FIBA central board as well as physical evaluation.

Nigeria currently has 3 FIBA referees, Kingsley Ojeaburu who stands as the first Nigerian referee to officiate at any FIBA organised senior event, when he arbitrated at the maiden FIBA World Cup in Spain in September.  Oyo State’s Tunde Popoola and Yinka Famogbiyele from Osun State make up the Nigerian FIBA big 3.

Nigeria will have a total of 10 referees eligible to officiate both continental and international competitions from 2015 if  the seven referees complete and pass out in flying colours at the end of the seminar.