NBA AFRICA has announced Gbemisola Abudu as the Vice President and Country Head of Nigeria. She will lead NBA Africa’s new office in Lagos and report to NBA Africa CEO, Victor Williams as the league plans to open its third office on the continent in early 2022.
In May, the NBA Africa was formed saddled with the task of conducting and overseeing all league’s business in Africa including the BAL (Basketball Africa League). The league partnered with several high investors to form the entity. The investors include two Nigerian businessmen which are Yinka Folawiyo Group; and Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation (HFP). The funding from the new entity will continue the NBA’s efforts in Africa by increasing access to basketball and the NBA through grassroots and elite development, media distribution, corporate partnerships.
As the Vice President and Country Head of Nigeria which is a newly-created role, Gbemisola Abudu will be saddled with the responsibility of leading the league’s basketball and business development initiatives in Nigeria which is in line with the purpose of creating NBA Africa. She will also be responsible for grassroots programming for youth, elite player development, relationships with current and prospective marketing, media and merchandise partners, and social responsibility efforts that improve the lives of youth and families in Nigeria.
Who is Gbemisola Abudu?
Gbemisola Abudu is a dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S. She is an accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, luxury marketing expert and social activist with 17 years of experience developing businesses, brands and human capital in Nigeria, the Middle East and the U.S.
She holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona where she is President of the Thunderbird Alumni Association’s Nigeria Chapter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and public relations from the University of Wyoming.
Abudu previously served as Founder and Managing Partner at BMGA Enterprise Limited (BMGA), an educational technology finishing school in Lagos that provides social and marketing intelligence to increase the productivity of people and organizations.
In that role, she invested in the sustainable development of human capital and advanced gender equality in Africa by developing social impact initiatives, establishing new learning and leadership platforms, and growing partnerships with world-renowned universities. Prior to BMGA, she worked as a global marketing professional for international brands, including Louis Vuitton, The Walt Disney Company and The Clorox Company.
What they are saying
Speaking on her appointment, Abudu said, “Joining NBA Africa as the Vice President & Country Head of Nigeria and opening the league’s office here is the opportunity of a lifetime and the culmination of all my experiences to date.
“As a lifelong basketball fan and Nigeria native, I look forward to working with the NBA Africa team to help build a more comprehensive basketball ecosystem in the country and to using the transformative power of sport to impact lives in Nigeria and beyond.”
“We are excited about expanding NBA Africa’s operations in Nigeria with the launch of our office in Lagos and thrilled to have Gbemisola join us to lead our efforts in the country,” said NBA Africa CEO, Victor Williams. “As an established business leader, entrepreneur, global marketing expert and social activist, Gbemisola’s expertise will be invaluable in helping us continue to grow basketball and the NBA in a country that already has a strong affinity for the game.”
