The President of Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, on his adoration for Africa as a continent filled with unlimited potential and talent.



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The tall man in sport, Masai Ujiri, is a name in
professional basketball far beyond the borders of Africa and his native
Nigeria. 



Born in England but having grown up in Zaria in Africa’s
most populous country, Ujiri’s adoration for Africa sees him on the continent
often, inspiring the youth. 



“Africa is no more afraid. We are not afraid of anybody
anymore. The continent is bold. The people are bold,” says Ujiri, when FORBES
AFRICA meets him in Johannesburg in November at the Africa Investment Forum in
which he participated. 



The continent has a special place in his heart. 



The President of the Toronto Raptors in the National
Basketball Association (NBA), also founded Giants of Africa (GOA) in 2003, as a
way of harnessing budding, untapped talent. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“As long as I am in a position where I am able to, we have to give the youth a chance. We have to pave a path for them and there is nothing I can’t do. I have to do everything, it is an obligation, I have to be an example for them by creating that pathway,” he says. </blockquote>



Ujiri, who started playing basketball at the age of 13,
travels to Africa every August to visit the GOA camps across seven countries on
the continent, training young boys and girls to be leaders in both sport and
everyday life. 



He says he draws inspiration from each and every country in
Africa, and the feeling is inexplicable.



The history and culture are a constant reminder of his years
growing up in Africa. 



Whether it is in Kenya, where his mother was born, or the
lasting friendships in Rwanda, Senegal or Nigeria, each country holds special
memories. 



Apart from the numerous trips in and out of the continent,
2018 granted Ujiri a rare once-in-a-lifetime moment. 



This was in July when Barack Obama, the former president of
the United States, visited Kenya, and with him, Ujiri opened a basketball court
in the country. 



Ujiri’s outreach program GOA launched it at the Sauti Kuu
Foundation Sports, Resources and Vocational Centre in Alego; familiar ground
for both leaders. 



Managed by Auma Obama, Sauti Kuu, much like GOA, is focused
on youth development. 



“To spend that time with somebody that Africa means so much
to, meant so much to me and so much to Auma. We are trying to inspire youth, we
built a court that is going to impact the youth and that was special,” says
Ujiri.&nbsp; 



Being able to scout African talent is what is imperative for
Ujiri, and it all comes down to building facilities to help the youth play
basketball. 



Ultimately, his dream for Africa is not only to see material
wealth but for talent to go beyond what he has achieved. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“My dream is to have one of the youth become bigger than me, and bigger than everybody. People think I always dream of building this and doing that but I want one of these kids to take everything that they learn and do better in each and everything.</blockquote>



“I love the continent; I love the culture of different
places. I am almost like Anthony Bourdain [the late American celebrity chef],
that is how it really is with basketball, with the culture, the people and the
food,” says Ujiri. 



Staying true to his African roots, when we meet him, Ujiri
speaks about his favorite yam and stew dish that he says reminds him of his
childhood. 



It’s such memories that see him taking the long-haul flight
out of Toronto to Africa each year.

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FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

Masai Ujiri’s dream of harnessing untapped African talent