NBA Africa and Tidewater Inc., a leading global provider of offshore vessels to the energy industry, have announced a multi-year collaboration in Angola aimed at taking the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programme to an even bigger level across the country.
And this isn’t just about putting a basketball in the hands of young players. The partnership is about using the game to build leadership, teamwork, confidence and opportunity for young Angolans.
The existing Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programme has already reached more than 40,000 boys and girls across Angola, making the country one of the key basketball markets on the continent. Now, with Tidewater coming on board, the programme is set to expand through tournaments, coaching clinics, leadership workshops and community investment.
The collaboration officially tipped off in Cabinda, where 60 local coaches took part in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA coaching clinic at Apolonia Complexus. The focus was on equipping coaches with the tools and knowledge to continue developing young talent at grassroots level.
But the action doesn’t stop there. The following day, 150 young people will take part in the first Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Leadership Workshop Clinic, kicking off a series of sessions designed to develop leadership and team-building skills. The workshops will also connect young participants with industry experts and community leaders, creating conversations that extend beyond the basketball court.
And later this year, the partnership will get physical in the communities, with NBA Africa and Tidewater set to begin refurbishing local basketball courts and hosting the first Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Tournament in Soyo for boys and girls from surrounding communities.
For NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi, the partnership is about tapping into something Angola already has in abundance: a deep love and history of basketball.
“Angola has a rich basketball tradition, and we are committed to using the game as a platform to inspire, educate and empower young people across the country.”
That philosophy sits at the heart of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programme, which teaches more than just the fundamentals of the game. Teamwork, respect, determination and community are all part of the curriculum, giving young players lessons that can travel with them long after the final whistle.
Tidewater President and CEO Quintin V. Kneen says the partnership aligns naturally with the company’s sustainability programme and its broader commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.
For a continent where basketball continues to grow at an incredible pace, initiatives like this matter. The future of African basketball isn’t only being built in professional arenas — it’s being shaped on local courts, in school programmes, through coaches and by young players getting their first opportunity to dream bigger.
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programme has already reached millions of boys and girls across more than 40 African countries. With Angola continuing to deepen its basketball culture, this latest collaboration is another major step toward giving the next generation the skills, confidence and platform to take their game — and their communities — forward.