NBA Africa has announced that former President Barack Obama will join their ranks as a strategic partner, the NBA reports.

In his new role with NBA Africa, Obama will seek to bolster the league's social responsibility efforts which include programs and partnerships across the continent that support economic inclusion and gender equality. Additionally, he’ll have a minority equity stake in NBA Africa, which he plans to fund the Obama Foundation youth and leadership programs throughout the continent.

Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, has familial ties to the continent. Also, he played basketball for the varsity team at Punahou High School in Hawaii and is a big fan of the NBA. He believes that partnering with the league will forge better relationships and will be a platform to share much-needed resources across the continent.

“The NBA has always been a great ambassador for the United States—using the game to create deeper connections around the world, and in Africa, basketball has the power to promote opportunity, wellness, equality, and empowerment across the continent,” Obama said in the announcement.  

“By investing in communities, promoting gender equality, and cultivating the love of the game of basketball, I believe that NBA Africa can make a difference for so many of Africa’s young people,” he continued.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his excitement about partnering with the former president. 

“We are honored that President Obama has become a strategic partner in NBA Africa and will support our wide-ranging efforts to grow the game of basketball on the continent,” Silver said in a statement. “In addition to his well-documented love for basketball, President Obama has a firm belief in Africa’s potential and the enormous growth opportunities that exist through sports.  NBA Africa will benefit tremendously from his engagement.”

In recent years, the NBA has sought to strengthen its basketball and social relationship with several countries within the continent of Africa and opened its official African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010. Former NBA players and investors from Africa have increased efforts to make their partnerships more visible to NBA fans and citizens of Africa.

The NBA Africa consortium is led by Babatunde “Tunde” Folawiyo, chairman and CEO of Yinka Folawiyo Group, and Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation (HFP), led by Co-CEO Tope Lawani. Also listed as investors in the NBA Africa partnership is NBA Legends Junior Bridgeman, Luol Deng (South Sudan), Grant Hill, Ian Mahinmi (France; ties to Benin), Dikembe Mutombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Joakim Noah (ties to Cameroon).

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