NBA Africa and Safaricom launch M-PESA Jr to empower over 10,000 youth
NBA Africa and Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) have launched the M-PESA Jr. NBA program, an ambitious youth basketball development and financial literacy initiative targeting more than 10,000 boys and girls in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu. The program, the most expansive Jr. NBA initiative in East Africa to date, aims to enhance basketball skills and promote financial literacy among young athletes aged 13 to 16 years.
The first edition of the M-PESA Jr. NBA program kicked off with a coaching clinic on February 15 at SABIS International School, Nairobi, where over 100 local coaches received specialized training. The program will feature a series of regional tournaments across four major Kenyan cities, beginning in Nairobi (Feb. 22-23), followed by Mombasa (March 8-9), Eldoret (March 15-16), and Kisumu (March 22-23).
Each tournament will bring together 20 boys’ and 20 girls’ teams for skills development sessions and competitive games. The best 80 players from all four cities will be selected to form four boys’ and four girls’ teams, which will compete in a round-robin tournament.
From this pool, the top 16 boys and girls from each city will advance to an elite “Top 100 Camp” at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, in April, where they will receive advanced training and mentorship.
Beyond basketball, the program incorporates financial literacy workshops powered by M-PESA Go, Safaricom’s innovative mobile money platform for teens. These sessions will equip participants with essential financial management skills, helping them build healthy financial habits from a young age.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating: “Tipping off our multiyear collaboration with Safaricom is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to make basketball more accessible to Kenyan boys and girls. We look forward to positively impacting youth and coaches across the country through basketball development and life-skills programming.”
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, saying:“Our collaboration with NBA Africa could not have come at a more opportune moment, as Safaricom’s M-PESA will celebrate its 18th anniversary this March. Through M-PESA Go, this partnership transcends beyond basketball. It is driven by a shared vision to create a lasting impact, not only in sports but also in the broader context of youth empowerment. We firmly believe that the collaboration between M-PESA Go and the Jr. NBA program can pave the way for growth and financial health, enabling young athletes to develop their skills and seize opportunities at the next level.”
The M-PESA Jr. NBA program represents a major step in youth sports development in Kenya, combining elite basketball training with financial education to empower the next generation of athletes. By fostering talent at the grassroots level and equipping young players with financial knowledge, NBA Africa and Safaricom are laying the foundation for a new era of sports and financial literacy in the country.
As the regional tournaments unfold in the coming weeks, Kenyan youth will have an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their talent, learn from top coaches, and gain essential life skills—both on and off the court.
