By Eddah Waithaka
NBA Africa and Safaricom, East Africa’s leading technology company, have teamed up to launch the M-PESA Jr. NBA program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to foster basketball development and enhance financial literacy for over 10,000 boys and girls across Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu.
This marks the NBA’s most extensive youth development program in East Africa to date. The program tipped off on February 15 with a coaching clinic for over 100 local coaches at SABIS International School in Nairobi.
The M-PESA Jr. NBA program’s first year includes four regional tournaments for youth aged 13-16 in Nairobi (Feb. 22-23), Mombasa (March 8-9), Eldoret (March 15-16), and Kisumu (March 22-23).
In each city, 20 boys’ and 20 girls’ teams will participate in skills development sessions and competitive games. The top 80 players will then advance to form four boys’ and four girls’ teams; to which they will compete in a round-robin format.
The top 16 boys and girls from each city will advance to an elite Top 100 Camp in April, at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa. Beyond basketball, the program will integrate financial literacy workshops powered by M-PESA, Safaricom’s innovative mobile payment platform.
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These workshops aim to equip participating youth with essential financial skills, helping them build healthy financial habits for the future.
Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa, said, “Launching our multi-year collaboration with Safaricom marks a key milestone in making basketball more accessible to Kenyan youth. We look forward to positively impacting youth and coaches across the country through basketball development and life-skills programming.”
Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, highlighted the timing of the initiative, coinciding with M-PESA’s 18th anniversary in March. “Our collaboration with NBA Africa could not have come at a more opportune moment,” he said. “Through M-PESA Go, this partnership transcends beyond basketball. We drive this initiative with a shared vision to create lasting impact in sports and youth empowerment. We are committed to nurturing potential, building character, and equipping the next generation with the tools necessary for success.”
The M-PESA Jr. NBA program represents a unique fusion of sports and financial education. It aims to help young athletes develop skills on the court while gaining knowledge to thrive off it.
The initiative’s wide reach and holistic approach will leave a lasting legacy in East Africa, inspiring future leaders on and off the court.
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