Global bodies, NBA Africa and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have unveiled a newly refurbished basketball court at the Campos Stadium as part of the Jr. NBA & AFD basketball experience program in Lagos.
The project which commenced in June in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission will avail thousands of sporting youths in Nigeria’s commercial city and surrounding communities opportunities to learn and play the slam and dunk game.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann; Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier; AFD Director for Nigeria, Xavier Muron; NBA Africa VP and Country Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu; 2003 WNBA Champion, Astou Ndiaye; and Dream Sports Africa Founder & CEO, Chenfa Dombin. Following the court unveiling, NBA Africa & AFD hosted a Jr. NBA clinic for seventy boys and girls to celebrate the newly refurbished court.
The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, said that the unveiling was a milestone of the enduring partnership they have forged with Nigeria and urged the young athletes to maximize the use of the court and dream big.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our collaboration with Nigeria, as we inaugurate this basketball court. Sports have the power to unite people, and this project exemplifies the strong ties between France, AFD, and Nigeria in promoting youth empowerment and skill development through sport. I am convinced that having this dedicated sharing space will enable young girls and boys to become changemakers in their local communities,” says Blatmann.
Executive chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku, commended the AFD, NBA Africa, and others for making the project a reality, assuring that the refurbished basketball court would be put to great use for young basketballers and maintained for posterity.
2003 WNBA Champion, Astou Ndiaye, who trained the seventy boys and girls said, “I am thrilled to be back in Nigeria and take part in the Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience in Lagos. Sport has the power to change lives and I hope this new basketball court will inspire more young people to play the game, stay active, and learn from each other as their development continues through this initiative and beyond.”
Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience program is part of AFD and NBA Africa’s larger collaboration to support youth development through basketball across the continent and builds on the inaugural Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience launched in Zenata, Morocco in 2019. In November 2021, AFD and NBA Africa initiated a pilot phase in Lagos implemented by the international non-governmental organization Dream Sports Africa. To date, the program has reached more than 34,000 boys and girls ages 12-17 from 55 public and private schools in Lagos State.
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