United State Government Partners OBN Academy to run Basketball in Port Harcourt
By Eyo Idongesit Kelvin
The Deputy Public Affairs Officer
of United State Consulate General in Nigeria, Jennifer M. Foltz has express
delight on the structure in place at the disposal of young basketball players
in the state to utilise and develop more on their skills.
L-R: Eyo Kelvin, Jennifer M. Foltz and Benson Clement
She further stated that the “Uplift African Youth Through Basketball”
an initiative of Organised Basketball Network (OBN) is worthy of commendation
and needed to be given all the support which has made the United State
Government to identify with the OBN Academy.
However, Foltz believes that sports
is more than just a sports depict the gap in language, but can bring people
together to play sports and help in bridging the gap of communication as well
become a tool for learning.
Speaking with www.kelvianomedia.blogspot.com.ng
during the opening ceremony of the two day basketball camp aimed at discovering
future basketball stars, The Deputy Public Affairs Officer of United State
Consulate General in Nigeria, Jennifer M. Foltz stated that the United State
Government have decided to partner with
OBN to run Basketball Academy for young people from Port Harcourt.
“I’m here with my team in Port
Harcourt because we are working together with OBN Academy to run a two day
youth basketball camp” Foltz continues.
Jennifer M. Foltz delivering her speech at OBN Academy Basketball Camp in Port Harcourt
“Sports diplomacy is something
United States government uses to further our goals we have in different
countries, so here in Nigeria we’ve decided to partner with OBN to run this
academy for young people from Port Harcourt and first of all is about sports,
sports is a great way for people to connect, It’s good for young people because
it gives them so many skills, like communication, leadership, and teamwork”
“We use sports as a means to teach
young people other things so in this camp they will not only learn basketball
but they will also learn about raising awareness on gender base violence, about
inclusion, they will receive some mentoring and also learn about
entrepreneurship.
Jennifer Foltz who did not fail to
acknowledge the relationship of both countries as a strong tool in sports
development reveals that NBA in Nigeria is focusing more on access to
basketball and reaching out to the grassroots as a means of teaching young
people.
“The United State and Nigeria have
a very special and a very close relationship and a lot of that is because of
our people, we have many Nigerian Americans, we have many Americans here in
Nigeria and the tide to our culture, they are in to fashion, they are into
music but of course they are also into sports”
OBN Academy Instructors at the Basketball Camp in Port Harcourt
“Maybe you know that in February of
this year 2022, NBA Africa open an office in Nigeria, it’s only the third
office on the entire African continent and even better they named a woman as
the Vice President and country had that office, so the NBA in Nigeria is focus
on increasing access to basketball and the NBA to grassroots and elite
development, media distribution, cooperate partnership, NBA Africa games and
the launch of the Basketball African League.
“Sports is great way to bring
people together, even if you don’t speak the same language you can still play
sports together, you can still play basketball and football together, and it’s
more than just sports, of course sports is very good for your physical body,
for your mental body but its teaches you leadership, teamwork, communication,
all skills that young people really need to succeed in their life”
Jennifer M. Foltz disclosed that is
her first time of being to Port Harcourt, thanked the State Government and the
present of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Her Excellency, Dr Mrs Ipalibo
Banigo-Harry for their support and honouring the Organised Basketball Network
(OBN) Academy despite the short notice.
No comments