Former Nigeria D’Tigers basketball player Louis Edem Ekpenyong is working to open doors for young people across Africa through the Louis Edem Foundation, using sport, education and mentorship as its main tools.
Ekpenyong said the foundation’s mission centres on building the next generation of athletes by pairing talent identification with structured leadership development, character building and academic guidance.
At the heart of the programme is the annual West Africa Basketball Championship, an international event that gathers leading clubs and players from across the region.
Ekpenyong highlighted that the tournament has expanded from a local grassroots initiative into one of West Africa’s standout basketball competitions, while also serving as a scouting and networking hub for coaches, agents and scouts searching for rising talent.
“What started as a grassroots idea has grown into one of the region’s key basketball events,” Ekpenyong said.
He added that the championship is designed to achieve more than just results on the scoreboard. “The tournament is not just about winning games. It is about creating visibility for African talent and showing that our players can compete with anyone.”
Beyond the championship, the Louis Edem Foundation runs annual basketball camps that combine high-level coaching with leadership training, mentorship sessions and programmes focused on character development.
Ekpenyong explained that the aim is to help young participants become well-rounded individuals who can succeed in life as well as in basketball.
“Sporting success must go hand in hand with education and personal growth. We want these young people to understand discipline, teamwork and responsibility,” he said.
To support that approach, the foundation provides academic scholarships to standout participants, allowing talented athletes to pursue strong educational opportunities alongside their sporting goals.
After an established career with the D’Tigers and in professional basketball, Ekpenyong shifted his focus toward youth development, drawing on his own experience and connections to broaden pathways for aspiring players.
Through its tournaments, training camps, mentorship initiatives and scholarship programme, the foundation is positioning basketball as a platform for youth empowerment and wider social development across Africa.
For many who take part, the initiative is about far more than playing competitive basketball, offering mentorship, academic support and a route to long-term personal and professional progress.
“Today, my legacy is not just about the games I played. It is about the lives we are able to impact and the opportunities we are creating,” Ekpenyong said.
He also noted that as the West Africa Basketball Championship continues to attract rising participation each year and more young athletes benefit from the foundation’s activities, the organisation remains committed to widening its influence across the continent.
