The 10th edition of the ExxonMobil, NBA Africa, PanAfricare Power Forward Finals, which began on September 19 will end today in Abuja.
The event had tipped with a Jr. NBA Clinic for 1,200 boys and girls ages 16 and under at the MO Arena spearheaded 2015 NBA champion, Festus Ezeli and 2015 AfroBasket champion, Olumide Oyedeji.
This year’s basketball tournament tipped off with 30 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams competing from June to September. The top eight girls’ teams and top ten boys’ teams made it to the playoffs, and the best two teams from each category advanced to the Power Forward Finals.
In his speech, the ExxonMobil Foundation President, Alvin Abraham said “Over the past decade, our partnership with NBA Africa and PanAfricare on the Power Forward initiative has promoted youth development through sports, life skills, and public health education.”
The NBA Africa Vice President and Country Head of Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu said “This impactful program has benefitted more than 250,000 young Nigerians and empowered them to use the leadership skills they learned to work towards a brighter future for Nigeria.
“We are excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Power Forward program as we build on our long-standing commitment to positively impacting the Abuja community.”
The PanAfricare Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Patrick Adah said “The initiative utilises the transformative power of basketball to educate young people about public health awareness while instilling critical life skills such as teamwork and leadership and we’re encouraged about the influence the program has had to date.”
