Panorama Sports
NBA Africa today announced the launch of NBA REC – the league’s recreational basketball platform for players ages 18 and older designed to elevate university, community and adult basketball experiences – in Nigeria through a multiyear collaboration with Future Concerns Nigeria Limited, a leading Nigerian health, safety, environmental and engineering services company. The collaboration marks the first NBA REC program in West Africa.
Munch It – a popular snack brand under Kellogg Tolaram Nigeria Limited – will join Future Concerns as an Official Partner of the inaugural NBA REC University Tournament, which will take place at the University of Lagos on Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8. The two-day event will feature a tournament comprised of eight men’s university teams from across Nigeria, fan entertainment and community programming. Additional details about the participating teams and tournament programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Nigeria is home to some of the most passionate basketball fans and talented young athletes in the world, and our collaboration with Future Concerns Nigeria Limited and Munch It reflects a shared commitment to creating more opportunities for young people to play, compete and connect through the game,” said Head of NBA Nigeria Fola Folowosele. “Through NBA REC, we are building a platform that brings together basketball, lifestyle and community, and we are excited to launch this initiative with the inaugural NBA REC University Tournament in Lagos. Together, we look forward to creating meaningful experiences for participants while helping grow the game and basketball culture in Nigeria.”
“The NBA is more than a game – it is a global platform that inspires teamwork, leadership, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence,” said Future Concerns Group Managing Director Dr. Eng. Anthony Oguike. “We believe lasting impact begins with young people. By investing in university sports and creating opportunities for student-athletes to grow both on-and-off the court, we are helping to develop the next generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers. That is why we are proud to collaborate with NBA Africa on NBA REC, including the NBA REC University Tournament. We are excited about the impact this collaboration is creating and the opportunities it provides for the youth of Nigeria.”
“At Munch It, we believe the best moments happen when people come together around shared passions, and few platforms unite young people quite like basketball,” said Munch It Brand Manager Enoma Aito. “The game represents energy, confidence, creativity and community values that have always been at the heart of our brand. That’s why we’re excited to work with NBA Africa to bring the inaugural NBA REC University Tournament to life in Nigeria. As a brand committed to championing youth culture, we look forward to creating memorable experiences for young fans while contributing to the continued growth of basketball and university sports in Nigeria.”
Nigeria has a rich basketball tradition and deep ties to the NBA dating back to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Hakeem Olajuwon being selected 1st overall in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. Since then, more than 50 players from or with direct ties to Nigeria have played in the NBA. Three Nigerian teams have competed in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) since its inaugural season in 2021, and NBA Africa opened a subsidiary office in Lagos in 2022, building on the league’s longstanding commitment to growing the game in the country through grassroots development and cultural initiatives such as NBA Crossover and NBA Meets Art.
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, the BAL, and more.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its sixth season in May 2026. Fans can follow @NBAAfrica on Facebook and YouTube, @nbaafricaofficial on Instagram, @NBA_Africa on X, and @theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
