Rivers Hoopers forward and 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League Most Valuable Player Abel Offia talks about his basketball journey, winning the MVP award, the challenges facing Nigerian basketball, his ambitions for the Basketball Africa League and more in this interview with TEMITAYO OSHIKOYA
How did you start playing basketball, and when did you decide to pursue it professionally?
I started playing basketball when I was 12 in Benin. I saw a lady playing and went over to see what was happening. You know, when you see a lady doing something, you just want to go there and join. She actually beat me in the game, and I was shocked.
After that, I started going there every day after school. One day, the coach noticed that I was always coming around and asked why I did not join the team and compete with them. I started training with the team, and before I knew it, I had fallen in love with the game. That was how I started playing basketball.
What has been the biggest challenge in your basketball career so far?
The challenges are not just about me as a basketball player but also about Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Here in Nigeria, the federation is not giving us everything we need in terms of opportunities, facilities and the number of games we play.
It is difficult to compete with others when you do not have a good structure. I believe we need a proper system that allows us to play regularly and develop our basketball.
There is a lot of talent in Nigeria, but the structure is not allowing us to showcase what we have at the international level. We have players who can compete, but we need the right environment to bring out their abilities.
What has playing for Rivers Hoopers been like, and how has the club helped you grow as a player?
Playing for Rivers Hoopers has been a great experience because they are the first team I won the Nigerian Premier Basketball League with. I had reached the finals a couple of times before, but I only won the league with Rivers Hoopers.
Playing for the team has given me an edge in terms of teamwork, coaching, discipline and the overall environment. Those things have helped me grow as a player, and I appreciate the experience I have gained with the club.
You represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIBA AfroCan. How was that experience, and would you like to represent the country again?
It was a good experience, even though I did not get much playing time. However, the experience still had an impact on me.
Obviously, every player would want to represent their country. I would be very happy to have that opportunity again, play alongside my brothers, represent Nigeria and fly the country’s flag. It would mean a lot to me to be on that stage again.
You recently won the MVP award for the 2026 NPBL season. How does it feel, and what does the award mean to you?
First of all, I want to say that the MVP award is not just for me. It is for Nigerian players and all of us who are playing in the local league.
I have to say this because people sometimes do not believe in us. They feel that players coming from abroad are better than those playing here in Nigeria. This award is an opportunity to show everyone that we can become whatever we want to be and reach the highest level of our abilities.
We can be better than anybody, regardless of where they come from. Whether a player comes from the United States, China or anywhere else, Nigerian players can compete with them.
Sometimes, people look down on us because we are local players, but this award shows that we also have quality. That is why I see it as an achievement for every local player, not just me.
Of course, I also dedicate it to my coaches, my teammates and everyone who has supported me throughout the journey. They have all played a part in helping me get to this point, and I am grateful to them.
What do you think made Rivers Hoopers successful this season?
One of the biggest things was that we had players who genuinely wanted to win and see the team succeed. Everybody wanted to improve, and we worked towards the same goal.
Nobody was holding on to the ball too much or trying to be the hero. Nobody wanted to be the one player who saved the team. We understood that basketball is a team sport, so everybody had to play their part.
We also understood that mistakes would happen, but what mattered was how we responded to them. We were willing to correct one another, and it was not only the younger players who had to listen to the senior players. Even the senior players were willing to take corrections from the younger ones.
That mentality helped us because everybody was ready to learn, work together and do what was necessary to win. I believe that team spirit was one of the major reasons we finished at the top.
Rivers Hoopers are returning to the Basketball Africa League. What are your expectations for the competition?
I am hopeful that I will get enough playing time because that is something I have been looking forward to. I want to show what I can do on the international stage, not just in the Nigerian league.
I believe I can make an impact if I get the opportunity to play. We are not going there just to participate; we want to compete and win.
My goal is to put myself in a position where I can help the team achieve that ambition. Everyone wants to play, contribute and win the BAL, and that is what we will be working towards.
What do you think Nigerian basketball needs to improve, particularly in supporting young players?
We need to improve our facilities, but it goes beyond that. We must ask ourselves whether there is a proper structure to help young players grow.
When a young player reaches the level where they are ready to play in the league, what is being offered to them? What opportunities do they have, and what can they expect from the system?
I will not lie; many players in the league are not earning much. Imagine telling a young player that they can reach the professional level but will not earn enough to take care of themselves. That can discourage them, and some eventually lose the motivation to continue playing.
We all have a passion for basketball, but the way the system is structured does not always give us enough support or the opportunity to develop into the best players we can be.
I believe the federation needs to work more on grassroots development, ensure that players have enough games and establish a proper payment structure.
These things are very important.
As players, we are playing because we love the game, but how far can that love take you when you do not have enough money to meet your basic needs? Players need to be able to support themselves while pursuing their careers.
Do you hope to play in a foreign league someday, and what are your biggest career goals?
Yes, I believe every player hopes to play abroad, experience different cultures and travel to different places through basketball. That is one of the exciting things about the game.
I want to play outside Nigeria, not just in other African countries but also in Europe and the United States. Playing in the NBA is still a dream for me as well.
I believe everything is possible, so we have to keep working hard and pushing ourselves until we achieve our goals.
What advice would you give young Nigerians who want to become professional basketball players?
My advice is that they should keep doing what they are doing and remain committed to their dreams. They should wake up every morning and make sure they are healthy because that is very important, even though people do not talk about it enough.
Everybody tells young players to work out, work out and work out, but what happens when you keep training without taking care of your health? You need to be healthy to play basketball, so looking after yourself is just as important as working hard.
We also need to pay attention to the quality of coaching. When you have a coach who does not understand the game properly, how do you expect that coach to develop a player? The same applies to officiating. Everyone involved in basketball needs to understand the game and its rules.
These are some of the things I believe the federation needs to address. But, as a player, my advice to young people is to be themselves, keep pushing and remain committed to their goals.
Go to the gym, work hard and, most importantly, make sure you are doing the right things. It is not necessarily about spending hours training but about training properly and working on the areas where you need to improve.
One day, you will get the opportunity to prove yourself and show the world what you can do.