By Daniel Igboekwe
NBA Africa and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), France’s public development institution, recently concluded the third season of the Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience with a two-day event at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, on September 10th and 11th.
The event featured a symposium focused on the core values of the program and a workshop for physical education teachers.
During the symposium, key stakeholders discussed essential topics such as mental health, hygiene, and gender equality, while also working to build the capacity of PE teachers and enhance the learning experience for students in their schools.
Notable attendees included, General Consul of France in Nigeria,Laurent Favier; AFD Country Director for Nigeria, Xavier Muron; and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu.
Favier emphasized the importance of sport in fostering inclusion, unity, and health across communities. “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,” he said.
Muron highlighted the organization’s commitment to using sport as a catalyst for positive change. “At AFD, we believe that sport is a powerful drive for change, fostering social and economic progress. Therefore, our participation in the Basketball Experience Program reflects our dedication to investing in youth, skills development, and community empowerment,” he stated.
Abudu, reiterated the program’s focus on accessibility and holistic development. “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, 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.”
The Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience is a youth development initiative that offers weekly basketball and life skills sessions, educating African youth about the importance of physical and mental well-being.
The program also aims to use basketball as a tool to promote social inclusion and inspire secondary school students to become change-makers in their communities. Over the past three years, it has impacted more than 40,000 youth from 54 schools in Lagos through basketball clinics and life-skills sessions.
About Agence Française de Développement Group
The AFD Group plays a crucial role in implementing France’s policies on development and international solidarity. Comprising the French Development Agency (AFD), which finances the public sector and NGOs, Proparco, its subsidiary dedicated to financing the private sector, and Expertise France, a technical cooperation agency, the AFD Group finances, supports, and accelerates transitions towards a fairer and more resilient world.
Working alongside partners and local communities, the AFD Group’s teams are involved in over 4,000 projects across the globe, spanning the Overseas Territories, 115 countries, and territories in crisis, with a focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in areas such as climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, education, and health.