U.S. Department of State-sponsored Basketball Camp Strikes a Unity Cord,
Nigerian Youths Asks for More
During August 12 - 14, 2005, PAS Abuja and the Federal Capital Sports Council in Abuja Nigeria, brought together over 300 high school kids from different religious beliefs and backgrounds, both boys and girls, to play together as a team using the game of basketball as a vehicle for conflict mitigation and peace building. This project is part of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs International Sports Initiative and their partnership with the National Basketball Association. The clinics tagged "U.S. Department of State/NBA/Reebok/FCT Basketball Unity Camp for Peace" was coordinated by Nigerian-born NBA Star Obinna Ekezie while Ambassador John Campbell presented shoes donated by Reebok to the camp participants at a short ceremony witnessed by a representative of the FCT Minister.
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RESULTS: The response to the camp call was overwhelming. Indeed the number of enthusiasts who applied greatly exceeded the expectations. The three day program included a pre-event press conference which was widely publicized by the Nigerian media, especially radio and television which quoted Ambassador John Campbell saying "We hope that the lessons of tolerance under competitive pressure learned from this experiment by the participants will be shared far and wide across the FCT and the neighboring states." NBA star, Obinna Ekezie, also appeared on prime time Africa Independent Television's "Kaakaki" morning show and was quoted extensively saying "I am grateful for the opportunity I've had in the United States to realize my dream, I want them to learn from my experience".