Sports industry leaders and youth call for long term investment
Sports executives, investors, policymakers, athletes, media leaders, and young people from Rwanda and across Africa met yesterday in Kigali, Rwanda for an evening focused on the people, systems, and opportunities shaping the future of African sport.
By Nicholas Waitathu
Champs for Change (C4C), a pan-African social enterprise focused on building the human capital behind Africa’s growing sports industry has called for long term investment with a view to exploiting untapped talents.
Sports executives, investors, policymakers, athletes, media leaders, and young people from Rwanda and across Africa met yesterday in Kigali, Rwanda for an evening focused on the people, systems, and opportunities shaping the future of African sport.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports Permanent Secretary Candy Basomingera who delivered a keynote address emphasised on the importance of long-term investment in people, institutions, and opportunities to ensure sustainable growth across the continent’s sports ecosystem.
Africa’s sports market is currently valued at approximately $12 billion with projections indicating the market could exceed $20 billion by 2035, representing one of the fastest growth trajectories globally.
Held on the sidelines of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals, the event explored the central idea that while athletes and competitions are often the visible face of sport, the long-term growth of the industry depends on leadership and investment.
In addition to infrastructure, partnerships, governance, media, and talent development systems operating behind the scenes.
The convening marked an important milestone for Champs for Change as the organization officially announced Kigali as its East Africa Hub, which reinforces its commitment to building locally rooted, continent-wide platforms that help young Africans access and build careers across the sports industry.
Speaking during the event, Victor Williams, former CEO of NBA Africa highlighted the importance of long-term thinking and ecosystem building in African sport.
“Africa’s population is expected to reach approximately 2.5 billion by 2050 with more than 60 per cent under the age of 25, making us the world’s largest future athlete talent pool”, noted Williams.
The platform brought together Bashir Ntwari, President of the Rwanda Boxing Federation, Jude Raul Karibu, Founder of Roadwork Community, and Paula Kami, Event Manager at Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports, for a candid discussion on creating opportunities, navigating careers, and building spaces within African sport.
A special contributor reflection segment featured Anibal Manave, President of FIBA Africa who reflected on the ideas he contributed to the C4C and WWLA Sports Volume and what remains most relevant today in advancing African sport.
