Giants of Africa brought an important moment for women in sport to Lagos yesterday, staging a landmark all-female basketball coaching clinic that gathered female coaches, physical education teachers and sports development advocates. The event formed part of the build-up to today’s unveiling of a new basketball court at King’s College, with the programme set to highlight the organisation’s wider push to grow the game across the continent.
The clinic took place at Avi-Cenna International School and was presented by the organisers as among the earliest initiatives of its kind in Nigeria. Sessions focused on modern coaching methods, tactical understanding and practical player-development approaches, guided by Giants of Africa coaches. A key feature was the presence of a FIBA-certified instructor who travelled from the United States to deliver parts of the coaching education.
Giants of Africa co-founder Godwin Owinje said the timetable was chosen to align closely with today’s court ceremony at King’s College. He noted that the new facility will be the 58th basketball court the group has constructed across Africa under its “Build Within” initiative, stressing that it sits within a larger target set by the organisation.
“We made a promise to build 100 courts across Africa and tomorrow’s court will be the 58th. We are halfway there and will continue pushing until we reach the century mark,” Owinje said.
Senior coach and FIBA instructor Joe Touomou, who led the clinic sessions, explained that the initiative is meant to widen pathways for women beyond their playing days. In his view, basketball offers far more than careers on the court, and the aim is to help women step into coaching roles and become part of the wider basketball ecosystem across Africa.
“There are so many opportunities in basketball outside of playing. The goal is to give women an opportunity to embrace coaching and become part of the basketball ecosystem on the continent,” Touomou said.
He added that many coaches have not always had access to the technical depth the modern game requires. “A lot of people coach the game but do not have a deep understanding of basketball. We try to empower these women with technical, tactical and mental tools to help them do their jobs effectively,” he said.
Several participants said the clinic introduced ideas that were not commonly covered in their previous training. Giants of Africa Team Nigeria coach Adetokunbo Ijomah pointed to specific terminology and positional concepts, including “splits”, “slots” and 45-degree positioning, which he said many attendees had not encountered before.
“A lot of us did not learn these things even while we were playing. Basketball is growing and Giants of Africa are helping us upgrade ourselves,” Ijomah said.
Coach Adekoye Abilikis, who coaches the Nigerian Police women’s basketball team IGP Queens, praised the programme for its focus on player-centred coaching. She highlighted Touomou’s message that effective coaching begins with patience and continuous learning.
“One thing Coach Joe mentioned today is that it is about the players. As a coach you have to be patient, keep learning and continue researching,” Abilikis said.
Beyond the clinic, today’s celebrations at King’s College will include a players’ session for pupils from King’s College and Queen’s College. The event will also feature musical performances by May D and Mayorkun, rounding off the day’s programme.
Giants of Africa was established by Nigerian-born NBA executive Masai Ujiri and Godwin Owinje, with a mission centred on empowering African youth through basketball.
