NBA celebrates Power Forward Huddle programme’s impact on Nigeria’s basketball, youth development

Oladipo, Ezeli hail foundation

Stakeholders and basketball enthusiasts at the weekend gathered in Abuja to celebrate the NBA Power Forward Huddle Youth Development Initiative, which has been growing the sport and impacting positively on the country’s youths since it was launched in 2013 by ExxonMobil Foundation, the NBA and Africare.

The Power forward Youth programme, which uses basketball to teach health literacy, including malaria prevention, personal hygiene and life skills such as leadership, respect and responsibility to students in 30 secondary schools in Abuja, had  its first virtual press conference at the weekend with millions of people across the world in attendance.

The Power Forward Youth Programme Initiative, in  its seventh year, also had two-time NBA all-star Victor Oladipo and 2015 NBA champion, Festus Ezeli, headlining the press conference livestreamed on NBA Africa YouTube.

The event, which was  hosted by television and radio personality, Jimmie Akinsola, also  also celebrated seven years of the Power Forward programme for youths under 14 years and coaches from 30 schools in Abuja. 

The organisers also thanked FCT Abuja Secondary Education Board and Nigerian Basketball Federation for their support of the initiative. 
 
Victor Oladipo and Festus Ezeli spoke about the role basketball played in their lives, the values of the game and credited their Nigerian upbringing for the successes on and off the court.
 
Ezeli  in his remarks, recalled his visit to Nigeria last year, after a decade and a half abroad. The NBA basketball star said he took part in the sixth Power Forward Finals at the National Stadium in Abuja.

“When I left Nigeria I said I was not going to come back unless I have something to contribute, until I accomplished something. And making it to the NBA was accomplishing something, but I wanted to do more and I wanted to do more for Nigeria myself. So I’m excited for the future,” he said .
  
Oladipo on his part credited his family and the way he was brought up in a responsible Nigerian household, for his academic and sports success.

“Coming from a Nigerian household and Nigerian parents, they are really big on academics. Originally, playing Basketball was kind of different in my household. My three years at Indiana, I was taking extra classes during summertime so I could graduate early. I still had a dream and the ability to go to the NBA Draft early, a year early. I credit definitely my culture, I credit definitely my parents and the way I was brought up, for my ability on and off the court. That’s just Nigerian way, it’s academics first and basketball later. That’s how it was growing up, so I had to make sure that I follow that plan,” he said.

To date, Power Forward has reached more than 80,000 youth in schools and communities in need, and nearly 30,000 people have attended past Power Forward community events. 

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