The 9th edition of the Al-Farouq Aminu Good Works Basketball Camp kicked off vibrantly at the historic Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, drawing dozens of young female basketballers eager to hone their basketball skills and grow both on and off the court.
Former NBA star and camp founder Al-Farouq Aminu, who has hosted the camp in Nigeria for nearly a decade, reflected on its impact. “I’m almost at a decade—it feels crazy,” Aminu said. “For the first five or six years, I was learning about Nigeria. Now, we’re starting to understand basketball here, which is a beautiful thing. The coaches and girls come every year, engaged and ready to learn.”
Aminu, the first active Nigerian NBA player to establish a basketball camp in his home country, urged fellow professionals to support grassroots initiatives. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he said. “Connect with players like me, and we’ll give you the wings to fly.” He acknowledged early challenges but expressed hope in easing the path for others eager to give back.
The camp features intensive training, mentorship, and community engagement, all focused on empowering Nigeria’s next generation of female basketball talent.