Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
NBA Africa (www.Africa.NBA.com) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), France’s public development bank dedicated to enhancing lives in developing economies, have inaugurated the “Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience” youth program in Guediawaye, Senegal. This initiative, first launched in 2021 in Nigeria and expanded to Kenya and Morocco, leverages basketball to drive social inclusion and empower youth in primary and secondary schools.
In Senegal, the program will be implemented by the nonprofit Sports for Education and Economic Development (SEED) Project, providing weekly basketball and life-skills sessions to thousands of boys and girls. These sessions emphasize physical and mental health, wellness, and social unity.
As part of the launch, NBA Africa and AFD unveiled two newly renovated courts at The Hamo 4.5.6. Courts in Guediawaye and hosted a clinic for 150 young athletes under 16. Key figures in attendance included AFD Senegal Country Director Mihoub Mezouaghi, Basketball Africa League (BAL) President Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Africa Director of Basketball Operations Kita Matungulu, and former NBA player and AfroBasket champion Olumide Oyedeji.
“AFD sees sports as a vital tool for social cohesion, supporting Sustainable Development Goals,” said Mezouaghi. “Our partnership with NBA Africa is part of a broader effort to foster sports, provide infrastructure, train educators, and empower African youth.”
“The growth of our collaboration with AFD enables us to reach more young people across Africa,” added Matungulu. “The Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience reflects our dedication to nurturing Africa’s youth through basketball, promoting values of wellness that benefit them both on and off the court.”
These refurbished courts are part of NBA Africa’s commitment to construct 1,000 basketball courts across Africa over the next decade, aiming to reach thousands of children in surrounding communities. The program has already impacted nearly 90,000 youth and trained 460 coaches in Morocco, Nigeria, and Kenya.
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA initiative, the league’s global youth basketball program, instills fundamental skills and core values in young players, enriching their experiences and enhancing the grassroots basketball landscape. This year alone, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programs have directly reached over 250,000 youth across Africa.
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