Sports minister Aurore Munyangaju has lauded the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for not only investing in sports but "shaping the future of Africa.”
She was speaking at the third BAL Innovation Summit which brought together top leaders from business, technology, sports, entertainment and stakeholders from different sectors on Thursday, May 30 in Kigali.
"We are not just investing in sports but shaping the future of our nation and Africa in general by working hand in hand, enabling innovation, empowering the African youth, and driving economic growth and development through the beautiful game of basketball,” she said.
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She highlighted the significance of BAL as a platform that promotes African youth empowerment by providing young people with tools, resources and opportunities to excel in sports and beyond as an investment for the continent’s future.
As Rwanda is hosting the BAL playoffs and finals for the fourth consecutive time, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, underscored the competition’s impact beyond investments in youth. He noted that it serves as a catalyst for the sports industry across Africa by creating jobs, empowering communities, and engaging the continent.
"The concept of sports and creative industries is yielding what we are seeing today. Our league is going to be a platform that will give African leaders an opportunity to continue developing the youth, and looking at the sports sector as a driver of economic development,” he said.
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Masai Ujiri, Co-founder of Giants of Africa, emphasised the transformative potential of sports, particularly basketball, in Africa. Here, he underscored the significance of viewing sports not just as a leisure activity but as a business opportunity.
He urged stakeholders to think big and invest in infrastructure to support the growth of the sports industry across the continent.
"We need infrastructure, we need arenas, we need the ecosystem around it,” he said.