BEN NWACHUKWU
Nigeria’s basketball community has demonstrated the spirit of unity and compassion that has long defined the sport, as leading stakeholders paid a heartfelt condolence visit to renowned basketball promoter and founder of the Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship, Igoche Mark, following the death of his mother, Madam Veronica Mark.
The delegation, which visited Mark in Abuja over the weekend, was led by the Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State Basketball Association, Ahmed Tijjani Ibrahim.
The visit brought together prominent personalities within the basketball fraternity, who offered prayers, words of comfort and solidarity to the grieving sports administrator and his family.
Speaking during the visit, Ibrahim said the delegation came not merely as colleagues but as members of one united basketball family determined to share in Mark’s grief.
“We are here as one basketball family to stand with you in this moment of grief. We pray that God gives you and the entire Mark family the strength to bear this great loss,” Ibrahim said.
He noted that Mark’s immense contributions to the growth of basketball in Nigeria had earned him the respect and affection of stakeholders across the country, making it imperative for the basketball community to stand by him during one of the most difficult moments of his life.
Visibly touched by the gesture, Igoche Mark expressed profound appreciation to members of the basketball family for their overwhelming support, describing the visit as a source of comfort.
“It is in the moment of grief that one knows how genuinely one is loved. I sincerely appreciate the basketball family for this visit and for standing with me,” Mark said.
The basketball promoter also paid an emotional tribute to his late mother, revealing the close relationship they shared throughout her lifetime.
According to him, speaking with his mother every day had become a cherished routine, making her passing particularly painful.
“I was very close to my mom. I always speak to mama at least once a day. She departed this world peacefully, shortly after my birthday anniversary,” he said.
Madam Veronica Mark passed away on June 29, 2025, leaving behind a family that continues to mourn her loss while drawing strength from the outpouring of support from friends, associates and the wider sporting community.
The condolence visit underscored the strong bonds that exist within Nigeria’s basketball fraternity, where relationships built through years of collaboration often extend beyond the court.
Igoche Mark has, over the years, become one of the country’s foremost basketball promoters through the establishment of the Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship, a competition widely acknowledged for providing a platform for young players to showcase their talents while contributing significantly to grassroots basketball development.
His commitment to youth empowerment and basketball development has earned him admiration from administrators, coaches, players and enthusiasts across the country.
The presence of dignitaries and stakeholders from different segments of the basketball ecosystem during the condolence visit reflected the high regard in which Mark is held and highlighted the unity that continues to define the sport in Nigeria.
As prayers continue for the peaceful repose of Madam Veronica Mark, members of the basketball community reaffirmed their commitment to standing by one of their own, emphasizing that beyond competition and administration, basketball remains a family bound together by shared values of compassion, solidarity and mutual support.
