His passion for basketball is certainly no mystery. Now former US President Barack Obama has joined the African Basketball League (NBA Africa) with a minority stake and as a “strategic partner”. “In Africa, basketball has the power to promote opportunity, well-being, equality and empowerment,” Obama said in a message shared via Twitter by NBA Africa.
The new pan-African basketball league
The latter, an African branch of the National Basketball Association, has supported a new Pan-African basketball league since the inaugural season held in May with 12 teams from 12 countries. NBA Africa has also launched programs aimed at improving the livelihoods of young Africans, while raising awareness of gender-based violence and promoting girls’ education. This is the area where Obama will be involved, helping to advance the NBA’s social responsibility programs.
The ambitions of Nba Africa
The Nba Africa has ambitious goals, explains Corriere della Sera. “The managing director, Victor Williams, has put together a large pool of investors. The shareholding includes two Nigerian companies: the industrial group Yinka Folawiyoela financial Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation. But there are also former professional players of the American league: the Congolese Dikembe Mutombo, 55, now very active in non-profit organizations; Texan Grant Hill, 48, now vice president of the Atlanta Hawks; Junior Bridgeman, 67, born in East Chicago, now owner of the magazines. “