NBA Africa and UM6P to transform basketball in Morocco and across Africa
UM6P and NBA Africa have announced a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionising basketball in Morocco
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Basketball has a bright future on the African continent. At a press conference on Friday, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), through its subsidiary Evosport, and NBA Africa announced a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionising basketball in Morocco. The signing ceremony, held at UM6P's European base in Paris, brought together influential figures, including Hicham El Habti, president of UM6P, Mark Tatum, NBA deputy commissioner, Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa, and Amadou Gallo Fall, president of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Ambitious initiatives for young people
At the heart of the agreement is the creation of the first NBA basketball school in Morocco, a first for the country. The project comes with the launch of four Jr. NBA leagues across the regions of Khouribga, Gantour, Laâyoune and El Jadida. Each year, nearly 2,000 under-18s will have the chance to take part in these programmes, which will be run by more than 200 coaches receiving specialist training.
Clare Akamanzi underlined the importance of the project, noting that "Morocco is full of incredible passion for basketball", and that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop the sport across the continent. She also highlighted the impact of earlier projects run by NBA Africa which, according to the figures given, have already reached more than 100,000 young Moroccans and coaches.
A vision for Africa
For Hicham El Habti, president of UM6P, the partnership goes beyond sport: "We believe in the power of sport to inspire and develop young minds. This collaboration fits fully with our mission to promote innovation and contribute to the socio-economic development of Africa."
The project, which also builds on the OCP Group's Act4Community initiative, aims to build a sustainable sporting ecosystem. The goal is not only to encourage participation in basketball, but also to develop skills and opportunities for Moroccan youth. By strengthening sports infrastructure and training qualified professionals, the partnership will help bring through a new generation of athletes and sports professionals in Africa.
A promising momentum for Morocco and Africa
Thanks to initiatives like this one, Morocco is positioning itself as a key player in sports development in Africa. The partnership with NBA Africa aligns with wider objectives, such as promoting social inclusion, tackling school dropout and creating economic opportunities in the targeted regions.
For NBA Africa, the collaboration is part of a strategy to extend the reach of basketball across the continent, backed by strong local partnerships. Mark Tatum stressed Morocco's potential as a springboard to boost the popularity of basketball in Africa.
By combining the NBA's muscle with local expertise, the partnership marks an important step in reshaping the Moroccan and African sporting landscape. Beyond the figures and projects announced, it embodies an ambitious vision in which sport becomes a lever for social and economic change.