Masai Ujiri Urges Government To Prioritise Infrastructure Maintenance

Co-founder of Giants of Africa (GOA) and President and Alternate Governor of the Dallas Mavericks, Masai Ujiri, has challenged governments and institutions in Nigeria to place greater emphasis on maintaining public infrastructure rather than allowing facilities to deteriorate after construction.

Ujiri made the call during the unveiling of the 50th basketball court built under the Giants of Africa “Built Within” initiative, held on Monday at the historic premises of King’s College, Lagos.

The former D’Tigers player described the occasion as a significant milestone in GOA’s mission to empower young Africans through basketball and sport-driven development.

According to him, the newly commissioned court represents both progress and fulfilment in the organisation’s wider ambition of delivering 100 basketball courts across the continent.

“It is a thing of joy and fulfilment to have the 50th court in our mission of providing 100 courts around Africa,” Ujiri said.

“The Giants of Africa is also happy to have this court situated within this historic school, King’s College Lagos.”

However, while celebrating the achievement, Ujiri expressed concern over the condition of infrastructure within the school, stressing the need for urgent intervention and modernisation.

He noted that although King’s College remains one of Lagos’ oldest and most respected educational institutions, its ageing structures require significant attention to align with contemporary facilities such as the newly unveiled basketball court.

“I must state emphatically that the structure of this prestigious school is nothing to write home about,” he said.

“A modern basketball facility does not sync with the structures I have seen here today. I therefore challenge those saddled with the administration of the school and government to do something urgent to uplift the school.”

Ujiri, who won the NBA title with the Toronto Raptors, has consistently advocated improved maintenance culture in Nigeria and has repeatedly raised concerns over the neglect of major sporting facilities.

For more than a decade, he has publicly called for the rehabilitation of the National Stadium in Lagos, which has remained largely inactive and in a state of decline for several years.

“These buildings are well built. What they simply need are facelifts, and this applies to many facilities in Nigeria,” he added.

“How can the National Stadium be in a state of disrepair for years now? We are Nigerians and the biggest country in the Black race, and we must show leadership in all areas. When Nigeria moves well, other African countries will move well too.

“Sports is a big business, and we must treat it that way.”

The newly completed basketball court, located within the King’s College grounds on Lagos Island, forms part of Giants of Africa’s broader vision of using sports infrastructure and development programmes to inspire and empower young people across Africa.