The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has commended the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa for organizing the Basketball Unity Championship.

The NIS boss, who was among the dignitaries that graced the finale of the championship, said NIS is ready to partner with the Nigeria Armed Forces in training and retraining of their athletes and coaches.

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, said as a passionate sports enthusiast and avid basketball player, the Chief of Defence Staff believes in the unifying power of sports as a means to promote peace.

He added that the championship has fostered civil-military cooperation, strengthening peaceful coexistence in the South-West geopolitical zone, and positively engaging the youth during and after the Independence Day anniversary.

He said this aligns with the operational philosophy of the Defence Headquarters, and the National Institute for Sports which emphasizes the use of non-kinetic operations to enhance peace, security, and national development and building the sporting eco-system.

The 4th Edition of the Chief of Defence Staff Unity Basketball Championship (South-West Zone) 2025 held at both the Teslim Balogun Stadium and the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, from September 30th to October 5th, 2025.

It featured 12 teams invited specifically from within the South-West geopolitical zone, along with two additional teams from contiguous states.

The participating teams were: Fountain Basketball Club of Ekiti, Hoops N Read Basketball Club (Lagos), Dodan Warriors Basketball Academy (Lagos), SportsNation 365 Club (Lagos), Ogun Rockets, Ondo Raiders, Osun United, Oluyole Warriors (Oyo), University of Ibadan Club (Oyo), Edo Beads, Delta Force Basketball, and Nigeria Police Force Baton.