NBA Africa in partnership with the Agence Française de Developpement unveiled a newly refurbished basketball court at the Campos Stadium in Lagos, offering youths in the communities the opportunities to learn and play the game.
The renovation project, which began in June was in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission.
Speaking at the launch, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, noted the importance of sports in uniting people and fostering youth empowerment and skill development through this project saying,
He said, “This 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.”
The AFD Director for Nigeria, Xavier Muron, also expressed enthusiasm for promoting social inclusion, sustainable development, and gender equality through this joint effort with the NBA and Lagos State Sports Commission.
NBA Africa VP and Country Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, highlighted their commitment to using sports to positively impact African youth and promote active and healthy lifestyle.
She said, “We remain committed to using the game as a vehicle for driving positive social and economic change in Nigeria and we hope that the new basketball court will encourage more young boys and girls to play the game and live healthy, active lifestyles.”
Chenfa Dombin, Founder and CEO of Dream Sports Africa, emphasized the transformative power of sports, particularly basketball, in improving physical and mental well-being and life skills for young people.