The renowned figures are each jumping on board with prior humanitarian experience. Whitaker is the CEO of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), which has aided in developing communities that face conflict and violence. His efforts for change are also intertwined with the global impact of sports under WDPI’s Peace Through Sports program.

“I’m thrilled to become a strategic investor in NBA Africa as it plans to grow basketball’s presence across the continent,” Whitaker shared in a statement. “The game of basketball is incredibly inspirational, and my decade working in Africa has shown me how sports can be a transformative method of helping to foster peace, as well as an economic engine for socioeconomic development in areas of conflict. I deeply believe in the league’s commitment to youth empowerment and am so excited to work alongside the NBA Africa family.”

Along with being a New York Times best-selling author, Moyo’s achievements include serving as a consultant for the World Bank and a research economist and strategist at Goldman Sachs.

“I have loved sport all my life and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to support basketball in Africa at an elite level,” said Moyo. “Basketball has a great capacity to be a positive force for communities across this amazing continent.”

Forest Whitaker

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