President, FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col. Samuel Ahmedu (Rtd) has lauded Jordan Nwora Foundation (JNF)’s collaboration with other stakeholders like New York Square, a Beninoise NGO (Enfant Du Benin Debout) and the Basketball Federations of the Republic of Benin (FBBB) and their Ghanian counterpart (GBBA) in opening a new vista, aimed at fast tracking the development of basketball at the youth level in Africa Zone 3.
Ahmedu gave the resounding thumbs up, while presenting a score card of the partners, who teamed up with his office to host basketball camps for Boys and Girls between the ages of 14-18 recently, saying with additional support from the hierarchy at FIBA Africa, 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.
Ahmedu, who is also a board member of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), told reporters that it is worthy of note that the objectives of running these camps were fully achieved as talented youngsters discovered at the camps, have among other benefits, secured basketball scholarships to foreign and local institutions.
He said, within the year under review, (2024), three camps have been successfully held in Port-Novo/Cotonou, in the Republic of Benin, (June 4th, 5th and 6th). It was the same for Tamale, in Ghana (June 4th-6th) and Awka, South-East Nigeria (from June 21-23).
According to him the successes recorded at the camps were reinforced by the decision of the main organizers to partner with other organisations, who provided the camps with some logistics support.
In specific terms, the Benue State-born Ahmedu rated the camp held in Ghana as exceptional, as it was the very first time in Africa, that the organisation of a camp for youngsters, 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 the Jordan Nwora Foundation provided all the materials and also handled the camp’s technical aspect with support from FIBA.
With respect of the event in Ghana, president of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col Ahmadu (Rtd), stated that, “it became necessary to explore the idea of each party contributing resources towards achieving the overall objective, and the construction of a borehole and basketball Court for the local community has indeed opened up a new vista in youth development”.
He added, “besides acquiring basketball knowledge during the JNF Camp, the folks of Tamale were blessed with a borehole and basketball court, named Dr. Baba Sampanah Memorial Court, a legacy left behind by the donors, and for ages to come”.
Historically, Dr. Baba is a late Ghanaian Basketball legend who in the years gone by, groomed a lot of youngsters in the sport, in Tamale.
Ahmedu also paid tribute to the FIBA Africa office in Abidjan, for providing balls for the camp, in line with its commitment in supporting basketball developmental activities across its jurisdiction.
While developing, sharpening and rebooting their skills in the game, camp participants were also taken through valuable life skills and lessons; encouraged to network and built lasting friendships on the newly dedicated court whose uprights were constructed by Nigeria’s and Africa’s own Opeyemi Babalola – Webber Engineering.
“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 asserted.
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