NBA Africa unveils NBA REC in Nigeria ahead of Lagos tourney

NBA Africa has announced the launch of NBA REC, the league’s recreational basketball platform for players aged 18 and above, in Nigeria through a multiyear collaboration with Future Concerns Nigeria Limited, marking the programme’s first appearance in West Africa.

Snack brand Munch It, owned by Kellogg Tolaram Nigeria Limited, has joined as an official partner of the inaugural NBA REC University Tournament, scheduled for 7–8 August at the University of Lagos. The two-day event will feature eight men’s university teams from across Nigeria, alongside fan entertainment and community programming. Organisers say further details on participating teams and event programming will be released in the coming weeks.

Head of NBA Nigeria, Fola Folowosele, said the collaboration reflected a shared aim of creating more opportunities for young Nigerians to play and connect through basketball, describing NBA REC as a platform combining basketball, lifestyle and community.

Group Managing Director of Future Concerns, Dr Eng. Anthony Oguike, said investment in university sport was central to developing student-athletes both on and off the court, adding that the company was proud to partner NBA Africa on the initiative.

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Brand Manager at Munch It, Enoma Aito, said the brand’s involvement was rooted in basketball’s appeal to youth culture and its ability to unite young people around a shared passion.

Nigeria’s basketball ties to the NBA date back to Hakeem Olajuwon’s selection as first overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA Draft. More than 50 players with Nigerian ties have since featured in the league, while three Nigerian teams have competed in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) since its inaugural 2021 season.

NBA Africa opened a subsidiary office in Lagos in 2022 as part of its grassroots development efforts in the country, which include the NBA Crossover and NBA Meets Art initiatives.

NBA Africa, an affiliate of the NBA, runs the league’s business across the continent, including the BAL — a partnership with FIBA featuring 12 club teams, which concluded its sixth season in May 2026. NBA Africa has subsidiary offices in Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi, and NBA programming is available in all 54 African countries.

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