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Former President Barack Obama Joins NBA Africa As Strategic Partner – Los Angeles Sentinel | Los Angeles Sentinel

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., plays basketball at Riverview Elementary University in Elkhart, Ind., Sunday, May perhaps 4, 2008. (AP Photograph/Jae C. Hong)

The Countrywide Basketball Affiliation (NBA) introduced that former President Barack Obama has joined NBA Africa as a strategic associate.

President Obama will enable progress the league’s social responsibility attempts across the continent, including plans and partnerships that help bigger gender equality and financial inclusion.  In this capacity, President Obama will have a minority equity stake in the new venture, which about time, he intends to use to fund Obama Foundation youth and management plans throughout Africa.

NBA Africa conducts the league’s enterprise in Africa, which includes the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which held its inaugural year in May that includes 12 of the major club teams from 12 African countries.  NBA Africa is centered on expanding the NBA’s existence in precedence African marketplaces, deepening the league’s engagement with players and followers across the continent, and continuing to grow Africa’s basketball ecosystem by way of systems like the Jr. NBA, Basketball With no Borders (BWB) Africa and NBA Academy Africa.  In addition, NBA Africa has introduced several social accountability initiatives aimed at increasing recognition of gender-dependent violence, supporting girls’ training, and improving the livelihoods of African youth and families.

“The NBA has always been a great ambassador for the United States—using the sport to generate deeper connections all around the globe, and in Africa, basketball has the energy to boost opportunity, wellness, equality, and empowerment across the continent,” claimed President Barack Obama.  “By investing in communities, advertising and marketing gender equality, and cultivating the appreciate of the activity of basketball, I imagine that NBA Africa can make a distinction for so numerous of Africa’s younger people today.  I have been impressed by the league’s commitment to Africa, such as the management shown by so many African players who want to give back again to their personal nations and communities.  That is why I’m very pleased to be a part of the crew at NBA Africa and search ahead to a partnership that added benefits the youth of so lots of nations around the world.”

“We are honored that President Obama has turn into a strategic companion in NBA Africa and will assist our wide-ranging attempts to expand the sport of basketball on the continent,” reported NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “In addition to his very well-documented enjoy for basketball, President Obama has a company perception in Africa’s possible and the massive progress alternatives that exist by way of sports activities.  NBA Africa will advantage enormously from his engagement.”

FILE – In this April 9, 2012, file photograph, President Barack Obama performs basketball with previous NBA basketball player Bruce Bowen in the course of the once-a-year White Household Easter Egg Roll at the White Dwelling in Washington. Bidding was drawing to a near Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, for a basketball No. 23 Punahou Faculty jersey believed to have been worn by President Barack Obama. Obama the wore that quantity for the duration of the 1978-79 university yr in Honolulu. (AP Image/Carolyn Kaster, File)

“We have formidable expansion strategies for NBA Africa and owning President Obama join our endeavours is a recognition that by means of sport, Africa can acquire its rightful put on the planet phase,” reported NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams.  “We look ahead to working with President Obama and our strategic buyers to use basketball as an financial advancement engine across the continent and as a platform to increase the wellness and wellness of just one of the world’s youngest and swiftest-increasing populations.”

Strategic investors in NBA Africa include a consortium led by Babatunde “Tunde” Folawiyo, Chairman and CEO of Yinka Folawiyo Group, and Helios Fairfax Companions Company (HFP), led by Co-CEO Tope Lawani.  More traders in NBA Africa involve NBA Legends Junior Bridgeman, Luol Deng (South Sudan), Grant Hill, Ian Mahinmi (France ties to Benin), Dikembe Mutombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Joakim Noah (ties to Cameroon).

The NBA has a many years-prolonged heritage in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010.  Considering that then, the league’s endeavours on the continent have centered on expanding accessibility to basketball and the NBA by way of social responsibility, grassroots and elite growth, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Game titles, the launch of the BAL, and a lot more.

The inaugural BAL time was broadcast to fans in 215 international locations and territories in 15 languages.  On Sunday, May well 30, Zamalek (Egypt) defeated US Monastir (Tunisia) 76-63 to win the 1st BAL Championship.  Admirers can abide by @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on Fb, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.