NBA Nigeria Targets Grassroots Revolution to Develop Future African Stars

Fola Folowosele, head of NBA Nigeria, has outlined an ambitious vision centered on grassroots development and infrastructure expansion to elevate Nigerian basketball and unlock the country’s next generation of elite talent.

Speaking recently about the future of the sport, Folowosele emphasized that Nigeria already possesses the talent capable of competing at the highest level, with Nigerian players continuing to shine in the NBA and top European leagues. However, he believes the long-term growth of basketball in the country depends on building a stronger local ecosystem from the ground up.

The NBA’s strategy in Nigeria focuses heavily on youth participation, local league development, and increasing access to basketball opportunities for boys and girls across the country. Folowosele also highlighted the importance of creating more structured pathways and improving sports infrastructure to sustain player development over time.

He further revealed that projects targeting schools and grassroots programs are already being prepared, signaling a broader effort to deepen basketball culture in a country traditionally dominated by football. With the continued rise of the Basketball Africa League and growing NBA investment on the continent, Nigeria aims to position itself as one of Africa’s leading basketball development hubs.