The Jordan Nwora Foundation (JNF), in collaboration with New York Square, a Beninoise NGO, Enfant Du Benin Debout, along with Beninoise and Ghana Basketball Federations (FBBB & GBBA) have opened a new vista aiming at fast tracking the development of basketball at the youth level.
To achieve the set target, JNF and its collaborators in partnership with FIBA Africa Zone 3, organized basketball camps for boys and girls between the ages of 14-18 across the zone recently. With the support from the hierarchy of FIBA Africa, the multiple camps were held in iconic cities like Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, Accra in Ghana, as well as Makurdi, Abuja, Lafia, Lagos and Onitsha, all in Nigeria as well in since 2021.
Some talents discovered at these camps have secured basketball scholarships to foreign and local institutions among other benefits.
Within the year under review, three camps have been successfully held in Port-Novo/Cotonou, in Republic of Benin, (June 4th, 5th and 6th). Same for Tamale, in Ghana (June 4th-6th) and Awka, South-East Nigeria (June 21-23).
The success of the camps were further bolstered by the decision of the organizers to partner with other organizations to provide some logistics at each centre.
According to organisers, the camp held in Ghana was exceptional, in the sense that Africa witnessed a first of its kind collaboration which culminated in the construction of a basketball court and borehole for the local community in Tamale, by one of the partners, New York Square, while Jordan Nwora Foundation provided all the materials and also handled the camp’s technical aspect with support from FIBA.
With respect to the event in Ghana, President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), stated that, “It became necessary to explore the idea of each party contributing resources towards achieving the overall objective.
The construction of a borehole and basketball court for the local community has indeed opened up a new vista in youth development.”
Col Ahmedu added that, “Besides acquiring basketball knowledge during the JNF Camp, the folks of Tamale have been blessed with a borehole and basketball court, The Dr. Baba Sampanah Memorial Court, which is a legacy left behind by the donors, and for ages to come.”
“The mission to promote youth development, healthy lifestyles, and community cohesion through sports were therefore pursued, and successfully achieved with flying colors,” a visibly excited Col Ahmedu stated.
In his remarks, Daniel Isaacs, the Founder and CEO of New York Square, posited that, “it is a blessing to be part of this historic partnership, which I hope will serve as a model for the future of Sports in Africa”.He added that, “New York Square, in collaboration with FIBA Africa Zone 3 and the Jordan Nwora Foundation is dedicated to using sports as a vehicle to provide sporting infrastructure, as well as support, guidance and mentorship for the youths of Africa.
WNBA legend, Rushia Brown, who mentored the youths during the camp remarked that, “it was such an honor to be part of the court dedication. To see the gratitude in the faces of the youths [in Tamale], and the opportunity of impacting their lives during the camp was life-changing for me. Our focus includes inculcating in the youths the benefits of clean water, healthy living and well-being, quality education and gender equality”.
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