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Built the right way round.
Most clubs buy a team and add an academy. The Flyers built the academy first — then earned the team.
A boy from
Maktown.
Maktown Flyers Basketball Club was founded in 2023 as a youth development academy by Akerannan Manasseh "Manny" Achii, a native of Makurdi in Benue State.
Achii relocated to the United States in 2015 for higher education, where he played college basketball and built a network of coaches and institutions. He named the club after "Maktown" — the nickname for Makurdi, where he first discovered the game — to honour those roots while opening an internationally aligned pathway for Nigerian youth.
The model was deliberately player-first: early talent identification, long-term development, academic support and real international exposure, in line with FIBA youth development principles.
The numbers behind the title.
2025 NPBL — per-game averages across the title run.
| # | Player | G | FG% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Ogbodeje Patrick Abah | 10 | 39.0 | 7.2 | 0.9 | 14.5 |
| 2 | Buhari Tolani | 10 | 42.6 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 11.1 |
| 10 | Garba Chingka | 10 | 37.1 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 10.4 |
| 7 | Subel Lucky | 10 | 40.6 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 8.8 |
| 23 | Akhuetie Bright | 10 | 58.1 | 8.2 | 1.2 | 8.7 |
| 11 | Obande Benjamin | 9 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| 6 | Gbenda Sinclair | 10 | 40.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Obekpa Christopher | 3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Kator Gar | 4 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Modupe Lawrence | 9 | 60.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Okoh Thomas Agbo | 9 | 60.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Oluwatobilola Bello | 5 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 30 | Aribo Andrew | 10 | 22.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 99 | Uchichi Samuel | 9 | 40.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Ahmed Mohamed | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academy to continent.
Under three years, start to finish.
The Academy is Founded
Manny Achii establishes Maktown Flyers as a youth development academy in Makurdi, Benue State.
First U.S. Scholarships
Prospects Simon David Ogwuche (6'8") and James Augustine Ohireme (6'7") secure U.S. high-school scholarships in New York.
FIBA Zone 3 U-17 Champions
The academy wins the Under-17 title at the FIBA Zone 3 Youth Tournament in Lagos.
Into the Professional Ranks
Maktown Sports acquires the NPL rights of the Lagos Legends and rebrands — integrating six academy players into the senior roster.
National Champions
In its first professional season, the club beats reigning champions Rivers Hoopers 74–72 in the NPL final. Patrick Abah is named MVP.
Basketball Africa League Debut
As Nigeria's representatives, the Flyers open the Sahara Conference in Rabat with the first-ever debut win by a Nigerian team.
Rooted locally. Structured professionally. Connected globally.
What we're building.
- Early identification and structured development of elite youth talent.
- Education-based basketball pathways at home and abroad.
- A sustainable bridge from academy to professional competition.
- Preparing athletes for the NPL, the BAL and global leagues.
- Representing Makurdi, Benue State and Nigeria with integrity.
- Athlete welfare, competitive integrity and clear progression.