NBA Africa and Safaricom Launch Largest Youth Basketball Initiative in East Africa
NBA Africa and Safaricom have launched East Africa’s largest youth basketball development program, targeting over 10,000 Kenyan adolescents aged 13–16. Announced on February 18, 2025, the M-PESA Jr. NBA initiative will span four cities—Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu—with regional tournaments beginning in Nairobi on February 22–23.
Over four weekends, teams of 20 boys and 20 girls per city will participate in skills clinics and competitive games, culminating in an elite training camp in Mombasa this April for top performers.
Beyond athletic training, the program integrates financial literacy workshops led by Safaricom’s M-PESA, aiming to equip participants with practical skills in budgeting, saving, and monetizing sports careers.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi emphasized the program’s dual focus: “We’re not just nurturing athletes but fostering life skills and financial independence.” Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa echoed this vision, stating the initiative aligns with Kenya’s broader youth empowerment goals.
The collaboration marks NBA Africa’s most expansive effort in East Africa to date, building on Safaricom’s existing sports investments. With registrations now open, the program underscores a growing trend of public-private partnerships addressing youth development through sports and education.
Autry Suku
Contributing writer at Topping Africa.
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