Oyedeji Basketball Camp Marks 25 Years of Grassroots Talent Development

Posted : 22 August 2026

The Olumide Oyedeji Basketball Camp will celebrate a major milestone when its 25th edition gets underway at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from August 31 to September 5, 2026.

More than 500 young boys and girls are expected to participate in the six-day programme organised by the Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation, continuing an initiative that has become a significant platform for grassroots basketball development in Nigeria.

The camp will combine intensive basketball training with mentorship, career guidance, personal development and talent identification, as participants are exposed to the technical and life skills required to succeed both on and off the court.

About 25 coaches, trainers and instructors will be on hand to work with the youngsters, with daily activities scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a refreshment break around midday.

Over its 25-year history, the camp has gone beyond producing basketball players to opening academic and sporting pathways for talented Nigerian youths.

More than 100 participants have reportedly gone on to represent Nigeria at national-team level, while over 300 scholarships have been awarded through the foundation's various empowerment initiatives.

The programme's alumni include NBA player Charles Bassey, D'Tigers centre Efe Abogidi, Churchill Odia, Daniel Ochefu and Samuel Tobi Ariyibi among the men.

The women's programme has equally produced notable players, including D'Tigress star Nkechi Akashili, Uju Ugoka, former Olympian Rashidat Sadiq and former Nigerian Women's League MVP Tokunbo Ijomah.

Several outstanding campers have secured opportunities to continue their education and basketball careers in the United States and Europe.

One of the beneficiaries, Ikenna Alozie, earned a pathway to Dream City Christian School in Arizona, while others have progressed to elite development programmes such as the NBA Academy Africa.

The camp's impact, however, extends beyond the basketball court, with participants receiving career counselling, motivational talks and personal development sessions designed to prepare them for different career paths, whether in sport or other fields.

The initiative is the brainchild of Olumide Oyedeji, former Nigerian international and D'Tigers captain, whose playing career took him through the NBA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Oyedeji was selected 42nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2000 NBA Draft and spent three seasons in the NBA with the SuperSonics and Orlando Magic.

He later captained D'Tigers from 2006 to 2016, featuring prominently during a period that produced significant milestones for Nigerian basketball, including the country's first AfroBasket title in 2015 and its maiden Olympic appearance at the London 2012 Games.

His influence has also extended into sports administration and Olympic affairs. Oyedeji became the first African to serve as Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association.

As the camp reaches its silver jubilee, the 2026 edition promises to be more than a celebration of 25 years of basketball development.

It will also reaffirm Oyedeji's enduring vision of using sport as a platform to discover talent, provide educational opportunities and inspire Nigerian youths to pursue excellence on and off the court.

Oyedeji Basketball Camp Marks 25 Years of Grassroots Talent Development

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics