Former WNBA All-Star and sports analyst Chiney Ogwumike is partnering with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the NBA Foundation on a new initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for young people through basketball and sport.
The partnership brings together Ogwumike’s Queens of the Continent Foundation, the NNN Foundation and the NBA Foundation, with a focus on youth development in Namibia and the wider African continent.
The initiative was announced in New York in September 2026 alongside the Unstoppable Africa gatherings, which brought together African leaders, business figures and other stakeholders during the 81st United Nations General Assembly period.
Rather than focusing solely on developing young athletes, the partnership will use basketball as a platform for building skills that extend beyond the court.
Its objectives include developing teamwork, discipline and leadership among young people, while creating opportunities for mentorship, personal development and future career pathways.
The organisations plan to create opportunities for children in rural and underserved communities in Namibia, where access to sporting facilities and structured development programmes can be more limited.
The initiative will also place emphasis on ensuring that both boys and girls have opportunities to participate and develop their athletic and leadership potential..
Basketball has continued to grow across the continent, supported by initiatives from the NBA and other organisations that have expanded youth leagues, clinics and development programmes.
But access remains an important part of that conversation. This is where the new partnership seeks to intervene, using sport as an entry point for young people to gain not only athletic experience but also skills, networks and exposure to new possibilities.
