By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have expanded their multi-year partnership with a new series of initiatives designed to empower young African basketball professionals. The collaboration, announced on Saturday, September 6, at the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algeria, aims to enhance financial literacy and support the continent’s growing creative industries.
The expanded partnership was officially launched during a signing ceremony at Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), which is part of IATF2025. BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade and Export Development, led the announcement.
Building on its existing support for BAL Advance, a program that strengthens financial literacy for BAL players and coaches, Afreximbank will now introduce “BAL Advance: Next Play” during the league’s sixth season, which tips off in 2026.
This new initiative will offer targeted business workshops and strategic networking opportunities to help players and coaches develop entrepreneurial skills. By leveraging their unique perspectives, they can drive innovation and growth across Africa’s sports ecosystem.
For the first time, Afreximbank will also support the development of emerging professionals in the sports industry through BAL Future Pros. This year-round program will provide early-career talent across Africa with the skills, experience, and networks needed to build successful careers.
Online applications will open on the NBA and BAL career websites later in September, with selected participants joining various BAL departments by the end of the year.
Following the signing ceremony, Amadou Gallo Fall and Mr. Temwa Gondwe, Afreximbank’s Director of Creatives and Diaspora, participated in a discussion and masterclass on the business of sports.
The session was hosted by BAL Ambassador and 2011 NBA champion Ian Mahinmi. The BAL and Afreximbank also hosted a BAL4Her camp for 20 female U-23 athletes from the local community at Staouéli Court in Algiers from September 5-6.
“Our long-standing collaboration with Afreximbank is part of our commitment to using basketball as an economic growth engine and the BAL as a platform to develop and showcase African excellence,” said Fall. “We look forward to continuing this work to further grow the African basketball ecosystem and the continent’s broader sports industry.”
Awani commented on the collaboration, highlighting the BAL’s significant contribution to advancing Africa’s creative sector.
“Afreximbank is committed to supporting the BAL’s premier networking and thought-leadership events, including the league’s annual Innovation Summit,” she said. “We will also support the launch of a new content series that celebrates African fashion designers in sports, which is set to debut soon.”
