Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa empowers next generation at career fair

Giants of Africa, a non-profit organisation dedicated to enriching the lives of African youth through sports, at the weekend, hosted a one-day career fair for local youth at the Kigali Marriott Hotel.

The event brought together aspiring young talent and influential industry professionals, marking another milestone in the organisation’s ongoing efforts to empower and inspire the next generation of African leaders.

Giants of Africa was co-founded by Masai Ujiri, who is the vice-chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors.

It hosted the career fair to support the Youth Internship Programme that will hold at the Giants of Africa Festival, a week-long youth celebration of basketball, education, culture and entertainment happening from August 13 to 19, 2023 in Kigali.

Youths from Nigeria will participate in the basketball festival and empowerment programme.

Giants of Africa partnered with the Rwanda Development Board’s Skills Office by utilising their Kora Job Portal to facilitate youth applications for the programme of which 1,900 local youth, between the ages of 20 and 30 applied.

Over 125 candidates were interviewed to select the 50 that would participate in the 10-day programme. The initiative aims to provide talented individuals with hands-on experience and education in the profession of their choice.

The day kicked off with opening remarks by Ujiri, who emphasised the importance of education, resilience, and self-belief in overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams.

Ujiri’s speech set the tone for the rest of the event. He said: “The Youth Internship Programme and Career Fair continues our mission to empower African youth beyond the basketball court. By exposing them to a wide range of career options and giving them opportunities for a hands-on professional experience, we want to equip them with the knowledge and experience necessary for their future success.”

Throughout the day, participants had opportunity to engage in interactive seminars, discussions and workshops. The seminars covered a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship, sports management, media and communications, technology, and social impact. Esteemed professionals from these fields shared their expertise and provided valuable career advice to eager participants.

Rwanda’s Minister of Youth, Dr. Utumatwishima Jean Nepo Abdallah, was in attendance and expressed his satisfaction with the Career Fair. He noted:

“Rwanda, as a nation, recognises that our greatest resource lies within our youth. We firmly believe that investing in their talents, skills, and ambitions is vital for the sustainable development of our country. Giants of Africa shares this vision, and together, we are shaping a brighter future for our youth.”