In collaboration with the Jr. NBA, M-PESA organized an elite basketball camp for the top 100 young basketball players at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa on Monday.

The Elite Camp was centered around fostering the abilities and progress of the younger athletes via skill-building workshops, practice matches, 5-on-5 competitions, and scouting endeavors.

Umoja Junior School's head coach from Changamwe, Wholly Kawemba, who was present at the event, referred to it as an excellent chance for both players and mentors to enhance their skills.

"It’s an excellent chance for my players before the national finals. We’ve improved certain skills today such as dribbling which will be crucial, and we’ll surely implement these techniques when competing at the finals level," Kawemba stated.

The selection of 100 participants -- comprising 50 boys and 50 girls -- was made through regional competitions conducted in four key urban centers: Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu.

The camp serves as a precursor to the Jr. NBA National Finals, which will take place from Thursday through Friday at the same location.

At the same moment, Michael Finley, who leads NBA Africa for Kenya, voiced his enthusiasm about the high caliber of talent showcased throughout the country.

"To date, everything has gone well; the regional tournaments have been highly successful throughout the four regions. Having made promises, we fulfilled them. Today, alongside M-PESA, we welcomed the top 100 young athletes to an elite camp aimed at improving their skill levels. Scouts were present as well, and I am confident that significant talent was discovered," stated Finley.

Meanwhile, Esther Waititu, the Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom, stated that this initiative has allowed the telecoms leader to achieve a key aspect of its vision.

At Safaricom, our mission is straightforward: to improve lives. In collaboration with Jr. NBA Africa, we've established an environment where athletics intersect with opportunities, and fun aligns with significance. Beyond fostering sports participation, we're empowering young people with financial know-how via M-PESA Go,” stated Waititu.

She stated, “Empowering youth through hands-on financial education, M-PESA Go seamlessly supports the Jr. NBA initiative. True greatness extends beyond achievements on the basketball court; it’s about applying those lessons across all aspects of daily life.”

The inaugural M-PESA Jr.NBA event reached over 10,000 boys and girls via various activities including games, NBA Fit sessions, and workshops on financial literacy provided by M-PESA Go.

The Jr. NBA National Finals will see 16 teams (comprising 8 boys' teams and 8 girls' teams) go head-to-head on Thursday and Friday at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa.

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