As a part of the activities marking the launch of the 2022 Power Forward basketball season, the National Basketball Association (NBA Africa), ExxonMobil Foundation and PanAfricare, Wednesday, began a tour of schools in the Federal Capital territory.
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The outing, which kick-started at the Government Secondary School, Kubwa, brought together students, particularly those involved in the game of basketball from schools within FCT, including Government Day Secondary School, Dutse, Total Child Model School, Dutse as well as the students from the host school.

The elated students were taken through a life skills seminar and by the former NBA player, Olumide Oyedeji after which they participated in a tree planting exercise.

The Power Forward line of activities, the organizers stated, were aimed toward building the capacity of the younger ones as part of their contributions towards sports development and a sustainable greener environment.

The Vice President, NBA Africa and Country Head, NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, explained that the annual programme, which is in its 9th series, is tailored to enhance the capacity of students in basketball technicalities and the curriculum for the junior NBA programme relevant for a successful career in the sport.

The programme also aimed at ensuring that the game of basketball is widely accepted by children in FCT so that they can benefit from all the skills embedded in the game.

Aside training and mentorship seminar, the students also participated in tree planting around the school environment.
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The NBA boss during the exercise, stated that the association is an environmental conscious one and that which sees tree planting as very relevant to overall development of humanity.

She said: “NBA being part of tree planting is because we know how important it is to sustaining the environment. So, that is part of what we do. When you talk about Power Forward programme, it comprises health, environment as well as capacity building in life skills.”

For the Country Director, PanAfricare Nigeria, Dr Patrick Adah, the programme was part of the implementation of Power Forward projects, which according to him, is targeted at using basketball as a platform to teach youths life skills and other related lessons.

“This is the season we celebrate World Environment Day. So, we engaged in tree planting exercise. We all know the importance of trees to the environment and the earth. This year’s theme is ‘One Earth’, and we have to do what we can to protect the earth.

“We have brought this exercise to the school in order to teach the students that there is need to work together towards protecting the environment. For us, this is part of the activities to launch the 2022 Power Forward project.
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“We have series of activities lined up both in the health and the environment sectors. This is focused on the environment and we have succeeded in teaching these tomorrow leaders the need to protect the environment”, Adah stated.

Also at the event was the Deputy Director, Head of Sports, FCT Secondary Education Board, Mr[U1] [U2] . Jimoh Eneye. While commending the organizers for their contributions towards the development of sports in FCT, he believed that the lessons learnt by students and teachers from the day’s activities will positively impact their future actions, particularly with regards to planting trees, which he said, do not only protect the environment but are also instrumental to a healthy living.
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