NBA Africa, AFD train youths on basketball experience

The National Basketball Association of Africa and Agence Française de Développement, France’s public development institution, have held a two-day symposium on basketball experience for youths in Lagos.

The programme took place at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, recently to conclude the third season of the Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience.

The Director of NBA Africa Communications, Chumani Bambani, said, “The Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience is a youth development program that features weekly basketball and life skills sessions to educate African youth about the importance of physical and mental health and well-being.

“The initiative also aims to use basketball as a platform to promote social inclusion and inspire secondary school children as change-makers in their communities.

“Over the past three years, the programme has reached more than 40,000 youths from 54 schools in Lagos through basketball clinics and life skills sessions.”

Speaking at the programme, General Consul of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier, said that through the support of the French Embassy, a series of programs had been organized in the last two years to promote sporting inclusion in Nigeria.

He said, “Over the past two years, with the financial support of the French Embassy, several initiatives have been launched to promote inclusion through sport across Nigeria.

“These efforts emphasize the transformative power of sport, not only as a tool for personal development but also as a means to foster inclusion, unity, and health across all communities.”

In his address at the event, Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, said the basketball experience training had improved Nigerian youths’ access to sporting activities in the country.

“The Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience has been essential in our commitment to making basketball more accessible to Nigerian youth and focusing on the importance of mental health, hygiene, and gender equity.

“We would like to thank AFD for their support and look forward to continuing to expand our youth development efforts in the country,” she stated.”

Stakeholders at the programme also used the opportunity to discuss mental health, hygiene, and gender equality, while building the capacity of Physical Education teachers and enhancing the learning experience for students in their respective schools.