On the sidelines of the ongoing Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 5, President Paul Kagame held a high-level meeting this evening with top executives from the NBA and BAL, reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to leveraging sports as a catalyst for development and continental integration.
The President met with Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa; Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League; and Leah McNab, Head of International Operations for the NBA.
Their discussions focused on Rwanda’s instrumental role in hosting the inaugural BAL season and the league’s impressive growth trajectory over the past four years.
President Kagame and the delegation also explored the continued collaboration between Rwanda and the NBA in nurturing basketball talent both locally and across Africa.
They emphasized the transformative power of sports, not just for youth empowerment, but also as a driver of economic opportunity, job creation, and continental branding.
Rwanda has hosted all five BAL seasons to date, positioning Kigali as a hub for African sports innovation and entertainment.
The partnership with the NBA continues to showcase the country’s ambition to be at the forefront of sports-driven development on the continent.