Giants of Africa, a not-for-profit that was co-founded by Nigeria’s Masai Ujiri who is currently the Toronto Raptors president, has announced it will embark on a seven African countries tour this August.
The tour will be in celebration of their 15th anniversary. Giants of Africa will host basketball camps and community outreach programs in Rwanda, Uganda, DR Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
“Over the past 15 years, I have seen the impact basketball can have not only on one kid but also on their entire community,” said Ujiri. “When I started Giants of Africa, I envisioned providing African youth access to the game and empowering them to achieve their greatest potential. With 63% of Africa’s population below the age of 25, we have a huge goal and responsibility to help them develop. We are excited that this year we are able to extend our reach further across the continent to help realize that dream.”
Giants of Africa itinerary
The Giants of Africa tour will kick off in Rwanda from August 6-8, DR Congo from August 10-11, Uganda August 13-14, Kenya August 16-19, Nigeria August 21-24, and wind up in Senegal August 26-28.
They will also host a girls’ match alongside boys’ match in Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. Other than the basketball matches, Giants of Africa will also activate local outreach programs in Kakuma (refugee camp) Maiduguri, and Bingereville in Ivory Coast.
Ujiri launched the not-for-profit back in 2003 in Nigeria. He aspired to leverage basketball sports as a tool to help young boys and girls Dream Big. The organization also seeks to provide empowerment opportunities for the youth.
Since its launch, Giants of Africa has been able to spread its program across the African continent and beyond the basketball game. It is now offering skills training and personal development with a focus also on basketball skills alongside general good health and wellness, leadership skills, and social impact.
Other than the basketball camps and community outreach programs, Giants of Africa will also train local coaches in all the communities they will be visiting. They will strive to impart on them the international standards of coaching.
Every year, local coaches join their international counterparts to provide role models for the youths participating in the program. The coaches strive to teach, motivate, and encourage the youth to work hard towards achieving their goals while staying out of trouble.
It is also important to note that Giants of Africa spearheaded the setting up of a basketball court in Alego, Kenya at the Sauti Kuu Foundation. The court was officially unveiled during President Barack Obama visit to his late father’s countryside of Alego in Kenya. The launch event of the foundation was attended by other world leaders, sports personalities, and celebrities.
Ujiri is a native of Nigeria, and he has had a love for the sports from a very tender age. Through the sport, Ujiri rose to become the first African-raised general manager for a major US sports team. The organization is using basketball to help boys and girls to Dream Big.