The immediate past Senate President Bukola Saraki has promised to partner with a Canadian-based Nigerian professional basketball executive Masai Ujiri to create thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

The Kwara-born politician made the promise in a tweet shortly after touring Toronto Raptors Training Facility which was built by Ujiri, a former basketball player.

“I have committed to work with himself and other well-meaning Nigerians to build similar basketball facilities in different parts of the country. This will create more opportunities for our young talented Nigerians.”

Ujiri is also the founder of Giants Of Africa, a non-governmental organisation for the purpose of educating and enriching young Africans through basketball.

The foundation has also created awareness, support and opportunities for underprivileged children and young adults in Rwanda, Kenya and other African countries.

Saraki who wanted the same opportunities for untapped basketball players in Nigeria said, “With basketball facilities in Rwanda, Kenya and other parts of the continent, I mentioned to Masai that it would be great for his Giants Of Africa foundation to augment it’s basketball clinics by building similar ones in Nigeria.”

Dr. Saraki who said he was pleased after visiting the basketball facility said the opportunity must not elude thousands of Nigerian youths who are passionate about the sport.

“I was pleased to hear about Masai’s @GiantsOfAfrica Foundation that works to create a pathway for the continent’s underprivileged youth through sport with the goal of growing the game of basketball within Africa.”

Recalled that in March 14, 2019, the Toronto Raptors Training Facility in its partnership with Drake renamed the practice facility after Drizzy’s OVO (October’s Very Own) brand, complex.com reported.

I have committed to work with himself and other well-meaning Nigerians to build similar basketball facilities in different parts of the country. This will create more opportunities for our young talented Nigerians.

— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) June 13, 2019

Born on July 7, 1970, Masai Ujiri is the president of basketball operations and former general manager of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

After his playing career ended, he became a scout. He was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2013 as the general manager of the Denver Nuggets.

Yesterday, it was a pleasure to spend some time at the Toronto Raptors training facility and meet with Masai Ujiri, the Nigerian-born President of the organisation. What a state of the art facility! Congratulations. pic.twitter.com/4YTCKYBINH

— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) June 13, 2019

Ujiri has also been the director of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Africa program, which promotes basketball throughout the continent.

He also conducts two camps, one for the top 50 players of Nigeria, which is sponsored by Nestle Milo, and another for African big men, which Ujiri sponsors himself with help from Nike.