Ujiri Calls on Government and Nigerians to Adopt a Culture of Maintenance

By Jacob Ajom

Masai Ujiri, co‑founder of Giants of Africa and President and Alternate Governor of the Dallas Mavericks, urged Nigerian governments and institutions to focus more on maintaining existing public facilities rather than constructing new ones that are subsequently neglected.

The former D’Tigers player delivered his remarks at the launch of the 50th basketball court under the Giants of Africa (GOA) “Built Within” initiative, an event held in a grand ceremony on Monday at the historic King’s College Lagos.

He described the occasion as a milestone in the organisation’s mission to empower young Africans through basketball, noting, “It’s a thing of joy and fulfillment to have the 50th court in our mission of providing 100 courts around Africa.”

Ujiri added, “The Giants of Africa is also happy to have this court situated within this historic school, King’s College Lagos. However, I must state emphatically that the structure of this prestigious school is nothing to write home about. A modern basketball facility does not sync with the structures I have seen here today.”

He went on to challenge the school’s administrators and government officials to take urgent action to modernise the school’s facilities, saying, “We all understand that this is one of the oldest schools in Lagos with old structures, but we need to modernise them to conform to a modern basketball facility like what we have launched today.”

Ujiri, a former NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors, has repeatedly highlighted the need for better facility maintenance in Nigeria. Over the past decade he has called on authorities to repair the National Stadium in Lagos, which has not hosted an event in more than ten years.

He added, “These buildings (King’s College) are well built. What they simply need are facelifts, and this applies to many facilities in Nigeria.”

“How can the National Stadium be in a state of disrepair for years now? We are Nigerians and the biggest country in the Black race, and we must show leadership in all areas. When Nigeria moves well, other African countries will move well too,” he said. “Sports is a big business, and we must treat it that way.”

The newly completed modern basketball facility, located within the school grounds on Lagos Island, is part of GOA’s goal to construct 100 courts across Africa to promote youth development through sports.

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