The National Basketball Association announced the formation of NBA Africa and a partnership with several NBA figures and investors, including Nigerians Babatunde Folawiyo, Chairman and CEO, Yinka Folawiyo Group, and Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation, led by Tope Lawani, Co-CEO of HFP and co-founder and managing partner of Helios Investment Partners.

NBA Africa will conduct the league’s business on the continent, including the Basketball Africa League – a partnership between the NBA and the International Basketball Federation and the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America.

The inaugural BAL season, featuring 12 of the top club teams from 12 African countries, is underway in Kigali, Rwanda, with the final scheduled to hold May 30.

According to a statement from the NBA, the Nigerian investors’ expertise in a wide range of industries and established relationships with African businesses, governments and NGOs will help accelerate the NBA’s growth across the continent.

Lawani and Folawiyo will also join the NBA Africa Board of Directors, which is led by NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams and includes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.

The announcement was made by Silver, Tatum, Williams, Lawani and Folawiyo, who were joined by NBA Global Ambassador and NBA Africa investor Dikembe Mutombo (DR Congo) in advance of Africa Day.

In addition to Mutombo, other investors in NBA Africa include NBA Legends Junior Bridgeman, Luol Deng (South Sudan), Grant Hill and Joakim Noah.

Folawiyo, a Duke of Edinburgh World Fellow, said, “Sport has always been a unifier in Africa, and our people have always excelled in most fields, often far from home and against all odds. 

This is a unique opportunity for Africa to leverage the new economy and develop the business and innovation infrastructure of sports.

“I am genuinely excited to be in a group that understands this imperative alongside the powerhouse that is the NBA.  Bringing world-class know-how together with local nous has been a strong formula for successful global businesses.

“We foresee this for our partnership.  This time, success will be defined not just by return on investment but by sustainable and long-term impact on the lives of our people.  That is our aim.”

Lawani added that Helios was hopeful of bringing their business expertise to bear on NBA Africa.

“Throughout Helios’ history, we have bridged international capital and expertise to African talent and enterprise, and this is a unique opportunity for us to do so in the world of sport by partnering with the NBA, a truly best-in-class operator.

“As a committed and experienced partner for businesses operating across Africa, we look forward to contributing our expertise, connectivity and market knowledge to support NBA Africa’s growth throughout the continent,” he said.

NBA Commissioner Silver said, “Today’s announcement is the result of many years of investment and on-the-ground work to grow the game of basketball in Africa and recognition of the enormous opportunities ahead for the NBA on the continent.  We believe that basketball can become a top sport across Africa over the next decade, and I look forward to working closely with our investors to make that goal a reality.”

The NBA has a decade-long history in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010.

Since then, the league’s efforts in Africa have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through grassroots and elite development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, the launch of the BAL, and more.