Giants of Africa Opens 50th Basketball Court at King’s College, Lagos

Giants of Africa, a non‑profit founded by Dallas Mavericks President Masai Ujiri, has opened its 50th community basketball court in Africa, marking the halfway point of an ambitious pledge to build 100 courts across the continent.

The 50th court, part of the Giants of Africa (GOA) “Built Within” initiative, was unveiled on Monday, May 25, at the historic King’s College in Lagos. The ceremony combined basketball, music and entertainment, creating a memorable event for students, parents and community members.

The new, modern facility sits on the school grounds on Lagos Island and is a key element of GOA’s goal to construct 100 courts throughout Africa to foster youth development through sport.

The court was built by Webber Engineering, whose CEO, Babalola, is a former basketball player turned sports entrepreneur.

During the unveiling, Masai Ujiri, co‑founder of Giants of Africa and President and Alternate Governor of the Dallas Mavericks, described the occasion as a moment of fulfilment in the organisation’s journey to empower young Africans through basketball.

“It’s a thing of joy and fulfilment to have the 50th court in our mission of providing 100 courts around Africa,” Ujiri said. “The Giants of Africa is also happy to have this court situated within this historic school, King’s College Lagos. I remember when I was asked how fast we would get to 50; we got to 50 now. You know that’s part of the journey. Ten in Nigeria, hopefully we’ll go to other parts of Nigeria. We are really excited about this.”

The principal of King’s College thanked Giants of Africa and the school’s alumni—particularly the 1982‑1988 cohort—for supporting the project and helping to make the dream a reality. He urged students to seize the opportunities basketball offers, noting that the game teaches discipline, teamwork, determination and goal‑setting.

Dr. Owodipe, President of the King’s College Old Boys Association, also spoke, expressing delight that a decade‑long dream of a modern basketball court at the school had finally been realised.

In addition to the court handover, the delegation highlighted its commitment to gender equity in sport by hosting a women’s basketball coaching clinic. Elite coaches from the United States, Canada and Europe provided female coaches with practical skills, resources and mentorship, advancing GOA’s broader mission of empowering women and girls through leadership and community engagement.

A youth basketball clinic followed the ceremony, bringing together 50 boys and girls from King’s College and Queens College. Led by local coaches and GOA staff, the session reinforced the organisation’s dedication to youth development and creating opportunities through sport.

The celebrations concluded with live performances from Nigerian artists May D and Mayorkun, who entertained guests at the historic venue.