The Basketball Africa League (BAL), in collaboration with BAL Ambassador and two-time WNBA All-Star, Chiney Ogwumike, at the weekend, launched the Nigerian edition of the BAL4HER Basketball Camp and Clinic, aimed at nurturing the next generation of women’s basketball leaders on the continent.
 
Held on August 30 and 31 at the American International School of Lagos, the two-day programme brought together 20 women under 23 and 50 girls under 16 for elite-level training sessions, mentorship from top sports figures, and life-skills workshops designed to boost leadership, confidence, and personal growth.  
 
The initiative was powered by Ogwumike’s Queens of the Continent Foundation, which champions the inclusion of girls in sports traditionally dominated by male athletes.
 
“This is the first time BAL4HER is coming to Nigeria, and the goal is to make these girls feel their dreams are valid,” Ogwumike said. “Oftentimes, basketball programmes are prioritised for boys.

My foundation aims to change that by making young girls a priority in pursuing their sporting ambitions,” she added. The camp, which also featured the head coach of Nigeria’s men’s national team, Abdulrahman Mohammed, included warm-ups, drills and skill development sessions led by seasoned coaches and professional players.
 
Ogwumike, who has played for the Los Angeles Sparks and currently works as an ESPN sports presenter, said she was impressed by the raw talent in Nigeria. “We have so much height, strength, and potential here. What we need now is the infrastructure, more coaches, more gyms, and systems that can help these girls reach their full potential,” she noted.
 
Sharing her personal journey from Stanford University to the WNBA and global sports broadcasting, Ogwumike urged parents and communities to support girls in sports.
 
“It’s hard being a girl who wants to play. Sometimes, families discourage them, saying sports aren’t for women. But sports changed my life, and I want them to know it can change theirs too.”