Ogwumike in Abuja for Power Forward Launch
The National Basketball Association (NBA), Africare and ExxonMobil yesterday in Abuja announced the launch of the second year of Power Forward, a youth engagement initiative that uses basketball to develop health, leadership and life skills among Nigerian youth.
The launch event took place at the Model Secondary School at Maitama in Abuja was attended by WNBA All-Star and Nigerian-American Chiney Ogwumike of the Connecticut Sun, ExxonMobil Nigeria Upstream Treasurer Anibor Kragha, NBA Vice President and Managing Director-Africa Amadou Gallo Fall, Nigerian Basketball Federation President Tijani Umar, former NBA Player and Nigerian National Team Captain, Olumide Oyedeji, and Africare Nigeria Country Manager Dr. Orode Doherty.
The Power Forward pilot programme was launched in 2013 in partnership with the NBA, Africare, ExxonMobil and local school and education officials.
Nigerian-born NBA Hall of Fame star, Hakeem Olajuwon, former NBA player, Obinna Ekezie, and three-time WNBA Champion Swin Cash attended the inaugural event. The programme was originally implemented in 10 secondary schools in Abuja.
The curriculum incorporates leadership training and health awareness through a combination of classroom and athletic activities, with student evaluations at different stages of the initiative. In addition, each school has a coach assigned to oversee the curriculum, guide students through lessons, and monitor progress.
The second season of the Power Forward pilot programme will include basketball games, clinics, life skills seminars and train-thetrainer sessions for the coaches, culminating in a 2015 Boys and Girls Power Forward final game.
The 6’4” Ogwumike was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the first overall pick in last year’s WNBA Draft. The 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Ogwumike was also named an All-Star and led the Sun in scoring and rebounding in her first season in the league.