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Safaricom has partnered with National Basketball Association (NBA)- Africa to empower Kenyan youth through sports.
Safaricom, through M-PESA, will launch a youth basketball development program to empower the youth aged 16 years and below through regional and national Jr. NBA tournaments, NBA Fit & coaching clinics, and an elite camp for top Kenyan prospects.
“Our partnership with NBA Africa for the Jr. Basketball Program underscores our commitment to opening meaningful opportunities for young Kenyans through sport and financial empowerment. This collaboration will not only help develop local basketball talent but also, through M-PESA Go, equip young people with essential financial skills to support their personal growth,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.
NBA Africa and M-PESA will host four regional Jr. NBA tournaments across Kenya, culminating with an 8-team National Championship. The Jr. NBA Fit clinics will involve life-skills seminars and financial literacy training courtesy of M-PES Go – a product that aims to drive financial inclusion and financial literacy among juniors aged 10-17 years.
The NBA Africa accredited scouts and coaches will also support coaching and capacity building for junior players through training and mentorship programs. The top 100 talents (boys and girls) will be scouted from the regional tournaments and enrolled into the NBA elite basketball camp. They will then have an opportunity to participate in NBA Africa’s other elite development initiatives in the continent.
“Our collaboration with Safaricom builds on the NBA’s ongoing efforts to grow basketball in Kenya and across the continent of Africa,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We look forward to creating more opportunities for young people to engage in physical activity and learn the values inherent in sport.”
For Basketball enthusiasts, Safaricom is also offering a bundled product giving customers access to data packages for NBA content. Customers will have access to daily, weekly and monthly offers giving access to all premium NBA live games, allowing them to watch condensed games, and have customizable NBA broadcasts, game angles and statistics.