D.K Olukoya Basketball Tournament Sharpens Teams Ahead of National League Tip-Off

As Nigeria’s top women’s basketball clubs prepare for the upcoming Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, the just-concluded 5th edition of the Dr. & Dr. (Mrs) D.K. Olukoya Women’s Basketball Championship has once again proven itself as more than just a trophy chase.

For coaches, players, and organisers alike, the two-day competition in Lagos offered a rare and timely platform to test strategies, blood new talents, and assess squad depth — all just days before the new league season tips off.

The tournament, which featured eight top teams from across the country, was originally conceived as a purposeful response to the disruption of women’s basketball activity during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. According to event coordinator Godwin Enakhena, it started not as a birthday celebration but as a sporting necessity.

“These girls never stopped training. Morning and evening, every day. At some point, I said to myself, you can’t keep training without playing,” Enakhena said. “That’s how this championship was born — to keep the girl child active and focused.”

Now in its fifth year, the Olukoya Tournament has evolved into a key preseason tune-up. It gives teams a realistic setting to simulate league-level intensity and identify gaps in readiness.

This year, the competition’s importance was heightened by the absence of several key players who were on international duty with the national U-19 team, particularly from clubs like MFM and Dolphins.

“We still have some of our players in the national team,” said Akindele Peter, head coach of Dolphins. “But this tournament gave us a chance to see how the rest of the squad steps up. I think two of those girls returning will strengthen this team even more heading into Edo for the league.”

The Dolphins, who went on to win the final against MFM, used the competition to blend fresh recruits into their system after half of last season’s squad moved to rival clubs — including MFM.

Despite those changes, Coach Akindele was quick to downplay the idea that success at the tournament was about titles.

“We came back to do it again this time around, and we are happy. But for me, the real win was seeing how our new players adapted under pressure,” he said.

From the player’s perspective, the event also served as a confidence booster. Damilola Olubode, Dolphins’ captain, noted that the experience gave her team momentum heading into the league.

“We are confident heading into the women’s league. This competition served as good preparation for what’s to come,” she said.

Her counterpart at MFM, Ukamaka Okoh, echoed similar sentiments. “It’s painful to lose, but we’ve learnt valuable lessons and will train harder moving forward,” she said.

More than just a game, the Olukoya Championship has increasingly become a talent showcase.

This year’s MVP was Ajani Amjalat of Dolphins, who stood out not only in the final but throughout the tournament.

She was named alongside Anari Favor (Dolphins), Khadijat Ali and Michel Angel (MFM), and Anita Precious (Amazon) in the tournament’s All-Star Starting Five.

For Enakhena, this validation of grassroots development is exactly why the competition matters.

“These players didn’t just show up as stars. They grew with us,” he said. “They’ve come through the U-16, U-18, and now some are shining in the U-19 and even senior levels. That’s the true success story of this event.”

Even the structure of the event — condensed over two days to test endurance, teamwork, and tactical discipline — served as a dress rehearsal for what teams can expect when the league begins later this month.

According to Pastor Ladejola Abiodun, Assistant General Overseer at MFM who presented the trophy, the broader vision remains unchanged.

“This championship is not just about basketball. It’s about discipline, growth, and giving our young women a platform to prepare for what life and sports may bring.”

Though originally focused on women’s basketball, Enakhena confirmed that plans are in motion to expand the competition in 2026.

“Next edition, by God’s grace, we’ll include male teams. It will be a full Nigerian basketball fiesta,” he said.

And as Nigeria’s domestic basketball landscape continues to battle with limited game time and sparse competition calendars, tournaments like the Olukoya Championship remain a crucial part of the solution.

“We don’t have enough competitions in Nigeria,” Enakhena said bluntly. “You can’t play 12 games all year and expect to face teams abroad who’ve played 200. That’s why this matters.”

Whether or not the Olukoya Tournament crowns new champions next year, its legacy as a league preparation platform is already firmly established — shaping not just better athletes, but stronger teams for the future of Nigerian women’s basketball.