By Atlantic Reports

The third edition of the Elevate Basketball Clinic is scheduled for October 17 at Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, with organisers expecting hundreds of young people below the age of 16.

The one-day programme, organised by Elevate Basketball Academy in partnership with the Lagos State Basketball Association, will focus on basketball skills, mentorship and personal development.

The clinic’s coordinator, Gbade Olatona, said participation interest had grown since the initiative began in 2024.

“Since we started in 2024, we have continued to see growing interest from young people who want to be part of the clinic,” he said.

“This year, we expect hundreds of participants below the age of 16 to take part in the one-day programme.”

Olatona said the organisers wanted participants to gain lessons that would serve them beyond sport, including leadership and responsibility towards their communities.

“Our vision goes beyond basketball. We want to use the game to shape young people into leaders, responsible citizens and agents of change in their communities,” he said.

The academy’s founder and sponsor, Akinwande Oshodi, described the initiative as a personal commitment to helping young people develop their abilities and navigate challenges.

Oshodi, a Lagos indigene based in the United States, said his experience with basketball had taught him discipline, perseverance, teamwork and the importance of believing in something greater than himself.

Those lessons, he explained, inspired the establishment of the academy and its emphasis on confidence, resilience and character development alongside athletic training.

“Through youth clinics, mentorship, character development and community outreach, we provide opportunities for young athletes to develop their talents,” he said.

“We also strengthen the values that lead to success in school, sports and life.”

According to Oshodi, the academy aims to help participants prepare for life beyond the basketball court, encouraging them to lead, serve their communities and pursue their ambitions.

Although organisers anticipate a larger turnout this year, registration procedures, participation costs, the programme’s starting time and arrangements for parental consent were not included in the announcement.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.