The 2023 Olumide Oyedeji Basketball Camp begins today at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The championship, which will end on August 25, according to the organisers, Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation, is aimed at discovering the next generation of basketball stars for Nigeria.
The foundation said the 2023 event would feature hundreds of children from Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, and Ekiti states, as well participants from other geo-political zones, who are between the ages of five and 18 years.
The foundation disclosed that top coaches from across Nigeria have confirmed their attendance at the weeklong event, which daily activities will hold from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
OOYF founder, Olumide Oyedeji, said, at the weekend, that preparations to deliver an unforgettable experience for prospective camper have been made, adding that the camp would not focus on basketball training only, but would also feature lectures on career choices and personal development, as well as motivational talks from some friends of the foundation.
“We are excited about the 22nd summer camp. It is a platform for Nigerian kids to improve their basketball skills and become better by taking advantage of an organised platform under the tutelage of seasoned and elite coaches.
“As we are discussing and playing basketball, we will also discuss life outside basketball,” he said.
Oyedeji, a former D’Tigers’ captain, current South West Zonal representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and third vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), said it was pertinent that aspiring basketball players are also made aware of prospects such as education and skills outside sports.
Over 25,000 children have participated and benefitted from the exercise since its inception. Some of the beneficiaries included Charles Bassey, currently with San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA); Joshua Ojianwuna, who plays for Baylor University and two members of the 2023 Women Afrobasket winning D’Tigress team, Balogun Elizabeth and Adenike Adewuyi.
Celebrity dancer and Guinness Book of Record holder, Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, known as Kaffy; Sodiq Abubakar Yusuf (CDQ) and Olanrewaju Ogunmefun (Vector), a Nigerian rapper and songwriter, are also among beneficiaries of the Oyedeji Basketball camp.
