Five players have been awarded scholarship awards by the Ajayi Elebire Elites Basketball camp.
The lucky players were selected at the end of the three-day programme which ended on Tuesday.
60 players and 15 coaches took part in the programme.
The selected players have been awarded scholarship to study in a school in the United States of America.
Founder of the AEE, Olalekan Ajayi, stated that he started the NGO so as to keep the memory of his father, Babatunde Elebire Ajayi, who died in 2020 alive, while also using the opportunity to give back to the society that made him.
The former D’Tigers player said he has been able to facilitate the movement of 10 players already from the first two editions of the camp and another five will join them soon.
Speaking further, he said his mission is to help change the narratives such as poverty, social immobility, and unemployment that exist across many societies around the world.
He also lamented his inability of him have the event in his home state in Ekiti as the state cannot be proud of a single outdoor court.
“A whole state does not have two, three outdoor where you can say you want to run a camp to give back to the community,” he said.
“That’s despicable. So I came to Lagos. Lagos is my second home. Ekiti is my first home. So that’s why I brought the camp back here where it started from. And then the scholarship is gonna be given to Lagosians. You know, I mean, if Ekiti state does not have a court, I have to give it to the people that are ready, heaven help those who help themselves”
Also speaking at the event, one of the scouts who came in with Ajayi, Brooklyn Nets Scout and co-founder of Giants of Africa, Godwin Owingie, described the camp as a great one.
He added: “Lekan has come a long way with regards to doing this camp. And I’m really proud of him for it. The 10 players have represented Lekan very well out there and I am sure the new five are going to do the same.
“Not all players can make it to the NBA, but by also giving them education, I am very sure they are going to make it big in life.”
