The National Basketball Association (NBA) hosted its inaugural Her Time To Play Leadership Series in Nigeria on Saturday, March 15, at Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos. The event featured two engaging panel discussions and a fireside chat with Gbemisola Abudu, NBA Africa’s Vice President and NBA Nigeria Country Head.
Her Time To Play (HTTP) is the NBA’s global initiative focused on empowering girls, building on the Jr. NBA program, which supports the development of youth and coaches at the grassroots level.
The event brought together 87 young women to promote youth development and create opportunities for connection, collaboration, and active engagement through basketball, both on and off the court.
The first panel, titled Owning Your Power, explored themes of leadership, confidence, and breaking barriers. It featured Ibukun Abidoye, Executive Vice President of Music at Chocolate City Music and Founder of The Nahla Initiative; Sade Dada, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for West Africa; and Mayowa Kuyoro, Partner at McKinsey Nigeria.
The second panel, Beyond the Game, focused on unlocking diverse career opportunities in today’s ever-evolving world. Panelists included Olutoyin Odulate, Founder and CEO of Olori Beauty Enterprises LTD; Titi Ogufere, CEO of Essential Media Group; and Nissi Ogulu, Founder of Creele Animation Studios.
This all-female leadership series builds on previous HTTP initiatives in Angola and South Africa, which have reached over 2,000 girls and women since 2023.
The event concluded with a fireside chat with Abudu, moderated by Nigerian television host and presenter, Bolanle Olukanni, providing an inspiring end to an evening that highlighted empowerment, leadership, and opportunity for young women.
