By Joel Ajayi
Former Air Warriors Basketball Club star Angela Samuel has given back to the club that helped shape her career by donating basketballs, shoes, training bibs, knee pads and other essential sports equipment to support the development of young female basketball players.
The donation coincided with the launch of the Air Warriors Basketball Talent Discovery Camp, an initiative designed to identify and nurture the next generation of female basketball stars through quality coaching, mentorship and educational opportunities.
Although Angela, who is currently based in the United States, could not attend the event in person, organisers said her contribution and success story continue to inspire both the participants and the coaching staff.
Speaking at the Mo Arena Basketball Facility, Zone 5, Abuja, on Sunday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Warriors Basketball Club, Abduldumajeed Solademi, described Samuel’s gesture as a powerful example of giving back and investing in the future of the sport.
He said the club established the camp to provide opportunities for talented girls who often lack the support and exposure needed to realise their dreams.
“We discovered that many young girls possess exceptional basketball talent but do not have the platform or support to showcase their abilities. Rather than waiting for government intervention, we decided to play our part by creating opportunities that will help them grow,” Solademi said.
According to him, the camp is open to girls from all backgrounds, regardless of tribe, religion or social status, as part of the club’s commitment to promoting inclusion and equal opportunities.
“Our objective is to continue supporting the girl-child through sports. Basketball is a powerful tool that can transform lives, and we want every talented girl to have the chance to pursue her dreams,” he added.
Solademi explained that experienced coaches have been assembled to train participants in the fundamentals of basketball while also mentoring them on discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership and other life skills beyond the court.
He revealed that the programme is not solely focused on recruiting players into Air Warriors but also on creating educational pathways through scholarship opportunities.
“We are not just looking to build a stronger Air Warriors team. We also want to support the education of these young athletes. Some universities abroad have already expressed interest in offering scholarships to outstanding players discovered through this programme,” he disclosed.
Expressing optimism about the future of Nigerian women’s basketball, Solademi said the club hopes the camp will produce players capable of representing Nigeria at international competitions, following in the footsteps of the country’s celebrated D’Tigress stars.
He encouraged the participants to remain committed both academically and athletically.
“Basketball is more than just bouncing a ball on the court. It teaches discipline, resilience, teamwork, hard work and self-control. These are qualities that will help you succeed not only in sports but in every aspect of life,” he advised.
Also speaking, Air Warriors Team Manager, Peninah Abajih, disclosed that about 70 young girls were selected to participate in the camp, with the club aiming to reach and develop as many promising talents as possible.
She noted that, beyond basketball training, the programme also featured health and hygiene education to equip participants with knowledge about personal wellness.
“As athletes, hygiene is extremely important because we are often exposed to conditions that can increase the risk of infections. We considered it necessary to educate the girls on proper personal hygiene while also providing sanitary materials to support their well-being,” Abajih said.
Looking ahead to the new basketball season, she expressed confidence in the team’s preparations and ambitions.
“Our target this season is to compete for the title. We have recruited quality players, strengthened our technical crew and appointed a new coach. We believe we have assembled a team capable of achieving great success,” she said.
The Air Warriors Basketball Talent Discovery Camp forms part of the club’s broader vision of combining sports development, education and mentorship to nurture future female basketball stars, while Samuel’s generous donation underscores the importance of former players giving back to inspire the next generation.
In her remarks, Air Warriors Basketball Club Player-Coach, Chidinma Queen Nwagwu, expressed confidence that the talent discovery camp would produce many more players like Angela Samuel, whose journey from a grassroots community to basketball in the United States has become a source of inspiration for aspiring female athletes.
Nwagwu described the turnout as a strong indication of the growing interest in women’s basketball, revealing that more than 70 girls registered for the programme.
“Looking at the number of girls who turned up, we can already say this camp is a success. The response has been encouraging and shows that many young girls are eager to embrace basketball when given the opportunity,” she said.
