Giants of Africa unveils basketball courts in Ijeshatedo
By Motolani AbdulGafar
Fortunate to be among the beneficiaries of an international sport foundation within the African continent, Ijeshatedo Grammar School has been gifted an NBA standard basketball court by the Vice-Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors and Giants of Africa, Masai Ujiri.
The court which is part of the foundation’s ‘‘Built Within Initiative’’ is a multi-year investment project in building and refurbishing 100 courts across the African continent.
In Lagos, these new courts are located at Ijeshatado Grammar School, Oworonshoki, a Community Park, and Ilupeju Grammar School.
Giving an outline of how the issued land was approved by Lagos state education board, the director, Co Curricular in Education District 6, Mr Paul Legbeti, appraised the efforts of the foundation, saying their contribution in the education sector enables young athletes an easy access to quality facilities and equipment to foster their talents while encouraging them to do more outstanding projects that would enhance sporting in Nigeria.
He advised students to take advantage of the rare privilege in their school so that they can one day become the Ujiri of their time to make Nigeria proud.
Speaking at the commissioning, the international athlete disclosed that their aim investing in the African continent aside from being proud to be one is to as well discover raw talents that would be guided on how to soar higher in basketball.
Ujiri said the foundation has taken it upon itself since 2003, to use sport to help empower youths to dream big by hosting basketball camps and clinics for boys and girls in 17 countries across the continent which the like of the 100 basketball court is one of it.
Appreciating the efforts of the foundation, the Principal of the school, Mrs Olayemi Olowogboyega explained that their joy in the establishment of the court is because the initiative has helped fulfill the psychomotor domain of education by providing a standard opportunity for students to discover themselves.
Olowogboyega promised that the school intends writing to all nearby public schools to collaborate with them in the area of basketball to give other students the opportunity to train and compete with their students rather than turning the court to a museum or photographic arena.
She as well assured that the state government will transfer an expert that will take the students through in their course of training.
In addition to Olowogboyega’s appraisal, Aishat Oyeniran and Destiny Ugwu who are among the students that showed interest in learning the game expressed that the court inspires in them the interest to dwell more in various sporting games aside football.
They also emphasizeded that interested students would ensure total commitment towards the training as Giants of Africa unveils a path to success in their school.
