September 13, (THEWILL) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), France’s public development institution, have concluded the third season of Junior NBA & AFD Basketball Experience in Nigeria.
The two-day event, held at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, from September 10 to 11, 2024, was organised around a symposium discussion on the core values of the programme and a physical education teachers’ workshop.
The stakeholders took the opportunity to discuss mental health, hygiene and gender equality whilst building the capacity of Physical Education teachers and enhancing the learning experience for students in their respective schools.
AFD Country Director for Nigeria, Xavier Muron, who disclosed this, said, “At AFD, we believe that sport is a powerful drive for change, fostering social and economic progress. Therefore, our participation in the BE Programme reflects our dedication to investing in youth, skills development, and the empowerment of communities.”
General Consul of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier, 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 emphasise 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.”
Speaking, the Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, said, “The Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience has been essential in our commitment to make basketball more accessible to Nigerian youths 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.”
Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience is a youth development programme that features weekly basketball and life skills sessions to educate African youths 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 youth from 54 schools in Lagos through basketball clinics and life-skills sessions.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
