Over the last three years, NBA Africa and France`s public development institutions - Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), have invested in the development of basketball on the continent with the Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience.
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 wellbeing.
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 program has reached more than 40,000 youth from 54 schools in Lagos through basketball clinics and life-skills sessions.
This year`s season was concluded with a two-day event at the National Stadium in Surulere on the 10th and 11th September 2024. The event was organised around a symposium discussion on the core values of the program and a Physical Education (PE) teachers` workshop.
The event presented stakeholders with the opportunity to discuss hygiene, mental health, and gender equality while building the capacity of PE teachers and enhancing the learning experience for students in their respective schools.
The notable attendees included the General Consul of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier, AFD Country Director for Nigeria, Xavier Muron, and Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu.
According to Gbemisola Abudu, the program demonstrates NBA Nigeria`s commitment to basketball development in Nigeria.
"The Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience has been essential in our commitment to make basketball more accessible to Nigerian youth and focusing on the importance of mental health. We would like to thank AFD for their support and look forward to continuing to expand our youth development efforts in the country"
Comments